Manchester City pulled off a resounding comeback to boost their Champions League hopes at the Etihad Stadium, coming from 2-0 down to defeat Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace.
In an entertaining affair, the visitors came storming out the traps, with Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards giving the visitors a two-goal lead within 21 minutes. However, an inspired performance from Kevin De Bruyne turned the game around, as he scored an excellent free kick before Omar Marmoush equalised towards the end of the first half.
City completed the comeback only two minutes after the restart through Mateo Kovačić, before adding gloss to the scoreline through strikes from academy products James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly.
As it happened
In an action packed midday kick-off at the Etihad Stadium, it was the visitors who took the lead. The Eagles sliced through City, as Daniel Muñoz sent Ismaïla Sarr down the right-flank. He then spotted Eze darting through the middle, and his pass across goal was simple but effective, gifting Eze a tap-in to give his side a surprise lead.
The hosts had their chances too, as Marmoush was played through one-on-one with Dean Henderson when City broke at pace. Richards had a handful of Marmoush, who managed to get a strike away, which Henderson saved. Thee follow up from De Bruyne was then deflected out for a corner. Not long after, City were made to pay, as Palace doubled their lead in the 21st minute.
Defensively, Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to cope with Palace in every aspect and they were undone by a set-piece, as Ederson and Rúben Dias failed to deal with Adam Wharton’s delivery, which was turned home by USA international Richards for his first goal of the season.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity reacted and nearly got one back through their departing Belgian, with De Bruyne cannoning a 25-yard effort off the woodwork. Sarr had a chance to put Palace 3-0 up, but fired over the bar after Muñoz pulled the ball back across goal.
It looked like one of those days for the hosts, as Eze made it three only to see the linesman’s flag raised for an offside after being teed up by Muñoz. The newly introduced semi-automated offside technology made its appearance for the first time and quickly confirmed the on-field decision. This sparked the City comeback.
In the 33rd minute, Daichi Kamada needlessly brought down Nico outside the area, giving De Bruyne a chance from 25-yards. This time, his effort hit the base of the post spinning into the back of the net. This was only the beginning.
Embed from Getty ImagesMarmoush picked up a loose ball on the left-flank and whipped a glorious ball into the area, with McAtee rising highest. Alas, his header was glanced wide of the post but then, in an instant, City were level.
In the 36th minute, Kovačić picked out McAtee running into space, and the youngster got to the byline before clipping the ball to the back post, where De Bruyne was waiting to head down to İlkay Gündoğan. The German fluffed his effort, but as the looping ball came back down, Marmoush smashed the ball through a crowd of Palace players and into the back of the net. Just like that, City were level.
De Bruyne was inches away from a first half turnaround, as he found himself with an opportunity inside the box which he blazed to high over Henderson’s goal. One thing was for sure: this first half was an excellent advert for the Premier League.
At the interval, Glasner made a switch, taking off his talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta for Will Hughes. However, that did not stop Guardiola’s side from taking the momentum into the second period.
O’Reilly initiated a move, bombing down the left-flank and spotting De Bruyne. He found the goalscorer who on the turn then played the ball to Kovačić on the edge of the area. The Croatian opened his body up and smashed the ball into the bottom corner to give City the lead for the first time in the tie.
Embed from Getty ImagesSince nearly going 3-0 down, Guardiola’s men were extremely dominant. Next, it was Ederson’s turn to shine, as he picked up his fourth assist of the season with an exceptional pass to find McAtee making a run-in-behind. The academy product got the better of Henderson and rolled the ball home to put City 4-2 up in the 56th minute.
De Bruyne was running the show from midfield as he advanced forward and darted in behind The Eagles’ backline. Without needing to look up, he beautifully slid the ball across goal for Marmoush, however Henderson made a sharp save and Palace were able to clear.
Four became five for The Citizens in the 79th minute, when O’Reilly instinctively volleyed home via a deflection off of substitute Nathaniel Clyne. With the margin of victory now three, the full-time whistle was blown.
The result sees Guardiola’s side rise up to fourth ahead of Chelsea and Newcastle United on 55 points, with both of those sides playing tomorrow. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace stay in 11th on 43 points.
Up next for Manchester City is a final ever trip to Goodison Park to face Everton, while Palace travel to St James’ Park on Wednesday night to play Newcastle United.
The lineups
MCI: Ederson; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Nico, Kovačić; Gündoğan, De Bruyne, McAtee; Marmoush
CRY: Henderson; Lerma, Lacroix, Richards; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta
