Phil Foden struck twice, including a stoppage-time winner, as Manchester City survived a dramatic Leeds United fightback to edge a chaotic 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium that keeps their Premier League title push alive and deepens the visitors’ relegation worries.
City appeared to be cruising when Foden scored after just 59 seconds and Josko Gvardiol made it 2-0 midway through the first half against a Leeds side offering almost nothing in attack. But Daniel Farke’s bold half-time reshuffle, spearheaded by substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin, transformed the contest. Calvert-Lewin pulled one back and then won the penalty from which Lukas Nmecha levelled on the rebound, before Foden finally settled a breathless game in the second minute of added time to move City up to second place, four points behind leaders Arsenal. Leeds, beaten for the sixth time in seven league matches and marooned in the relegation zone, at least left with renewed belief after a spirited second half.
Lightning start as Foden strikes inside a minute
After a bruising European week that included back-to-back defeats against Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen, City needed a response. They delivered one almost instantly. With just 59 seconds on the clock, the hosts produced a move that was described as a diagram of City at their best. Nico González swivelled in midfield and slipped the ball back to Gvardiol, whose 45-yard diagonal found Matheus Nunes on the right. Deployed effectively as a raiding full-back, Nunes leapt to control, played infield to Bernardo Silva, then surged forward to take the return pass and whip a cross into the heart of the area.