Afrigather Mateo Kovacic scored twice as Manchester Metropolis edged Fulham 3-2 on the Etihad Stadium, preserving strain on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Andreas Pereira gave Fulham an early lead, however Kovacic responded with targets both facet of halftime to revive Metropolis’s lead. Jeremy Doku added a shocking strike, although Rodrigo Muniz’s late objective arrange a nervy end.
Metropolis’s win prolonged their unbeaten run throughout all competitions to 10 video games, together with 5 wins in seven Premier League matches, leaving them only one level behind Liverpool within the title race.
Issues had been raised over how Man Metropolis would cope with out Rodri, who’s sidelined for the remainder of the season with a knee damage. Nonetheless, Kovacic’s commanding efficiency in midfield has proven Guardiola could have discovered a dependable substitute.
The Premier League champions began the sport on the entrance foot, with Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland each coming shut early on. Nonetheless, Fulham capitalised on a lapse in Metropolis’s protection, with Adama Traore breaking away however being denied by Ederson.
Fulham took the lead within the twenty sixth minute when Metropolis didn’t clear Antonee Robinson’s cross, permitting Raul Jimenez to arrange Pereira, who volleyed previous Ederson. Fulham missed possibilities to increase their benefit, with Traore once more misfiring, a lot to Metropolis’s aid.
Metropolis’s comeback started when Kovacic levelled the rating with a deflected strike from the sting of the field after a nook fell kindly to him. The Croatian then put Metropolis forward two minutes into the second half, calmly ending from 18 yards after Bernardo Silva’s intelligent cross.
Doku secured what appeared like a snug lead for Metropolis with a robust shot into the highest nook within the 82nd minute. However Muniz’s deflected effort within the 88th minute gave Fulham hope, although Metropolis held on to assert the win and stay firmly within the hunt for a fifth consecutive Premier League title.
Anthony Nlebem
Head of Sports activities at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content material Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports activities reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and international sports activities panorama and expertise in delivering complete and insightful sports activities content material.
