Published By: Ritayan Basu
Last Updated: December 17, 2023, 06:58 IST
Premier League: Manchester City and Crystal Palace (AP)
Manchester City dropped extra factors in its flimsy title protection within the Premier League when a stoppagetime penalty from Michael Olise earned Crystal Palace a 2-2 draw.
Pep Guardiola slammed sloppy Manchester City after their Premier League title defence suffered one other blow as Crystal Palace fought again from two targets down to rescue a 2-2 draw thanks to Michael Olise’s final-gasp penalty on Saturday.
Guardiola’s facet had been in command after Jack Grealish put them forward within the first half and Rico Lewis doubled the lead after the break.
But the champions stumbled within the second half on the Etihad Stadium as Jean-Philippe Mateta lowered the deficit within the closing levels earlier than Olise transformed his penalty within the fifth minute of stoppage-time.
City have received simply as soon as in six league video games, having additionally drawn with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham and misplaced to Aston Villa prior to final Sunday’s 2-1 victory at Luton.
In what was their final match earlier than heading to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup, the end result leaves them fourth within the desk, three factors behind leaders Liverpool, who host Manchester United on Sunday.
“The games against Spurs, Liverpool, today, were excellent, but we were not able to win the game. What has happened is because we are not consistent enough to close the games, and many reasons,” Guardiola mentioned.
“18-yard box, you have to be careful, and we were not. We don’t deserve to win.”
City’s bid for an unprecedented fourth successive title is in peril, though Guardiola will remind his gamers they got here from eight factors behind Arsenal to snatch the crown late final season.
‘It was deserved’
“It is not bad luck, it was deserved, we gave away two points. When you give this penalty, you deserve it,” Guardiola mentioned.
“You see the chances we created, the chances we concede, it’s quite similar, except the Chelsea game, all this season. But we are not able to close the game.”
City subsequent face Japanese facet Urawa Red Diamonds within the Club World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday, with the ultimate happening on Friday.
“Six, seven-hour flight with the result, just three days to recover, three days for a potential final. It is what it is,” Guardiola mentioned.
“Now we are down and we lift as quick as possible and go to compete there.”
Once once more with out the injured Erling Haaland, City dominated the opening levels and Palace ‘keeper Dean Henderson did well to save a fifth-minute Julian Alvarez header.
City’s breakthrough got here within the twenty fourth minute when Phil Foden fed Grealish, and he slotted previous Henderson for his third purpose in as many league video games – the hassle standing after a prolonged VAR examine for offside.
City had their second within the 54th minute as Grealish’s move ricocheted off Rodri and the ball fell to Lewis for a detailed-vary end, the 19-12 months-outdated’s first Premier League purpose being confirmed after a VAR evaluate.
But Palace pulled a purpose again within the 76th minute when a protracted ball discovered Jeffrey Schlupp and he provided Mateta, who slid house to begin the nerves jangling in Guardiola’s staff.
Deep into stoppage time City followers’ fears had been realised as Foden caught Mateta within the field, referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot, and Olise calmly dispatched the ball previous Ederson.
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)
