On Tuesday, Manchester City were left frustrated after Brentford mounted a stunning late comeback to secure a 2-2 draw at home.
The match, which looked set to see the defending champions extend their lead, turned into a nightmare as City allowed two goals in the final 10 minutes.
Manchester City seemed to have the game in hand after Phil Foden’s quickfire brace. The first goal came in the 66th minute when Kevin De Bruyne delivered a picture-perfect cross into the box.
Foden, ever the clinical finisher, rose to meet it, and City had a deserved 1-0 lead. Just 12 minutes later, Foden was on the score sheet again, cleaning up Savinho’s rebound after the Brazilian’s earlier shot was saved.
Brentford Stuns City With Late Fightback
At this point, City were 2-0 up with just a few minutes remaining, and it seemed like they would be heading home with all three points.
However, Brentford had other ideas. In the 82nd minute, Yoane Wissa found the back of the net, finishing from close range to pull one back for the Bees. That goal gave Brentford a renewed sense of hope.
With City’s defense looking shaky and lacking key players, the match was far from over.
In the dying seconds of the game, Christian Norgaard rose above the City defenders to head in a dramatic equalizer from a Keane Lewis-Potter cross.
The goal, scored in stoppage time (90’+2), was a bitter blow for Pep Guardiola’s side.
City’s Away Form Continues to Struggle
City’s late collapse means they have now won only one of their last seven Premier League away games (1W-2D-4L).
They remain in 6th place with 35 points, two points behind Chelsea in 4th.
Despite having a strong start, the team’s inability to close out matches has become a recurring issue this season.
Guardiola pointed to the absences of key players as a contributing factor to City’s late collapse.
Rodri, John Stones, and Ruben Dias were all missing from the lineup, and their absence was felt in the air. Both of Brentford’s goals came from crosses that the City defenders, including Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji, failed to clear.
Ake whiffed on the first, while Akanji was beaten to the ball for the second. It was a frustrating sight for City fans, especially given the team’s dominance for most of the match.
Dramatic Moments and Missed Opportunities
The match was not without drama, with a goal from Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard being ruled out for offside in the 65th minute.
Damsgaard had a great chance to score, but the assistant referee spotted that he was offside during the buildup.
A few minutes later, City’s Savinho came close to scoring, but his shot struck the post after a 50-yard run.
It was perhaps the best chance City had before Foden’s brace.
A Wake-Up Call for Manchester City
Despite the missed opportunities, City can’t afford to dwell on this result for too long.
The late goals conceded were a harsh reminder that matches aren’t won until the final whistle.
For Pep Guardiola, his team’s lack of composure late in the game is a serious concern.
The absence of key players only highlighted the need for depth and focus in the final moments of a match.
Brentford’s Resilience Pays Off
As for Brentford, it was a fantastic comeback that will give them plenty of confidence moving forward.
Manager Thomas Frank will be pleased with how his team never gave up and fought until the end.
The Bees remain a tough side to break down, and this draw will surely boost their spirits as they look to push higher in the Premier League standings.
Conclusion: A Draw That Feels Like a Loss for City
In conclusion, Manchester City will be disappointed with the result, especially given their control of the match.
Brentford, however, will be elated with their dramatic late equalizer.
The result leaves City in 6th place, still chasing a top-four finish, while Brentford will look to build on their resilience.
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