Kovacic double and Doku goal ensure Manchester City win and keep up with Liverpool & Arsenal

• Muniz scored late to give Fulham hope of a comeback as they wasted opportunities.
• Doku hit a stunner to put Manchester City 3-1.
• Kovacic double ensured City could stage a comeback.
• Pereira scored to give Fulham a shock lead.

 

 

Match Report

Manchester City and Fulham began the game with both sides trying to create openings. City had more possession but it was Fulham who stole the lead. Antonee Robinson’s cross was kept alive by Alex Iwobi, who slipped a pass through to Raul Jimenez, who played a clever back-flick to Andreas Pereira, catching Manuel Akanji wrong-footed.

The perfect camouflage fooled all in Manchester City, looping over Akanji’s head, before dropping onto the foot of Pereira to tap past Ederson. The Etihad was stunned into silence.

City’s equaliser was less exciting but just as important when Ilkay Gundogan’s corner bounced off Traore and fell in front of Mateo Kovacic, who lashed home via a Joachim Andersen deflection. Kovacic was at it again as he scored his second goal of the game two minutes into the second half.

Fulham were too cautious as Kovacic at the edge of the box punished them for allowing him to strike a lovely finish inside Bernd Leno’s right-hand post. City were now leading 2-1.

City sealed the game when Jeremy Doku, on as a second-half substitute, arrowed a brilliant swirling strike into the top-right corner to give City a 3-1 lead. Fulham didn’t give up and Muniz rewarded them with their second goal. Nelson passed the ball across to Muniz, who had ample time to control the ball and then hammer a shot beyond Ederson. Scoreline read 3-2.

It was a late scare for Manchester City while Fulham tried their level best to find an equaliser. Unfortunately, time ran out before they could do so. City won and stayed level on league table points with Arsenal and just a point behind Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola would be relieved with this victory after the past two league games not going City’s way. Fulham will be filled with regrets as they missed three big chances in total – two falling to Traore – and finished the game with a greater xG than Man City.

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