After 71 minutes, Manchester City was thrilled while Brentford was devastated. The strategy of Thomas Frank, which involved defending with 10 players and hoping for a counterattack goal, had caused problems for the champions who seemed to be out of ideas. However, the hosts’ incredible skill was displayed in a quick sequence, with Rúben Dias passing to Rodri near their own area. Rodri then passed to Julián Álvarez, whose ball found Erling Haaland who had been ineffective up until this point. But in this moment, as he sprinted towards the goal, Kristoffer Ajer slipped, allowing the deadly 23-year-old to score past Mark Flekken on the goalkeeper’s right from inside the penalty area.
The game is finished, even though Flekken was in City’s territory during the 95th-minute corner. Haaland’s goal, which brings his total to scoring against all 21 Premier League teams he has played against, brings City within one point of Liverpool and sets up a crucial match at Anfield on March 10th. This game will determine who has complete control over their fate. Get ready for an intense showdown.
Haaland received criticism for not scoring against Chelsea on Saturday. In response, Pep Guardiola stated that if he had to pick one opportunity for Haaland to score, it would be this one. He also reminded people that top strikers tend to score frequently and advised against criticizing Haaland, warning that he will prove his doubters wrong. Guardiola also acknowledged the difficult circumstances Haaland has faced, including being sidelined for two months and the loss of his grandmother.
“It’s a tough match for us [against Brentford]. We lost six points to them last season. In these types of games, having Erling is crucial.”
Following another heavy rainstorm, the playing field was slick enough for City to pass the ball around easily.
The Premier League’s marketing team heavily emphasized the two points lost against Chelsea, but the resulting draw marked their ninth consecutive game without a loss in the league. Guardiola’s team has been the strongest in the country for the past three seasons when it comes to finishing strong in late May. And now, they have extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games.
Guardiola chose to use a less common 4-2-3-1 formation with Bernardo Silva playing alongside Rodri. The two players aggressively joined the offensive plays, creating pressure in the opponent’s area. Haaland also contributed to this pressure by approaching Sergio Reguilón and successfully taking the ball from him. He then quickly pivoted and took a shot, which was easily collected by Flekken. Brentford’s goalkeeper then made a great save by throwing himself at a corner kick to block a powerful shot from Phil Foden. As a result, Frank’s team managed to avoid conceding a goal.
Chelsea had succeeded, like many others have against City, by counterattacking swiftly. So, it was not shocking to witness Frank Onyeka break free down the left side. However, the midfielder, who received a pass from Yoane Wissa, needed to be more determined as his weak shot was easily caught by Ederson.
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When Guardiola crouches down, it shows that he is feeling stressed. He did this after Onyeka received a free kick for a challenge from Dias. Reguilón passed the ball to Ivan Toney, but his shot went over the goal. Toney is a tough opponent with a combination of strength, control, speed, and cleverness that can be a nightmare for defenders. John Stones experienced this firsthand when he was pushed back, shoved aside, and could only watch as the ball was passed to another player.
City controlled possession for nearly 70% of the game, leaving Brentford on the defensive. The pressure nearly paid off when Stones delivered a long pass to Kyle Walker, who headed the ball to Silva, but he missed the opportunity from a short distance.
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Unfortunately, Dias was also unable to score with his forehead from an even closer range when Rodri passed to him at the far post. This was after Flekken tipped over a 20-yard shot from Manuel Akanji. Then, Oscar Bobb demonstrated composure in a crowded area as he tricked his way past defenders and shot low and forcefully. Ben Mee’s clearance off the goal line even earned a congratulatory hug from Flekken.
City’s mood would have worsened if Onyeka’s header had gotten past Ederson, causing frustration. Kevin De Bruyne was on the bench, ready to be put into the game. Guardiola chose not to use him due to concerns about his hamstring. The manager clarified that De Bruyne had some discomfort and after being out for five months with a hamstring injury, they didn’t want to take any chances.
In the second half, Guardiola took off his coat, signaling that it was time for the team to focus on winning the game and catching up to Liverpool. However, his halftime talk seemed to have little effect as Brentford was able to disrupt the flow of the game. Guardiola shouted at his players multiple times, but it was not enough. In their previous match, Foden’s three goals were too much for Brentford. This time, City’s performance was chaotic. Things hit rock bottom when Silva made a poor pass that went out of bounds. Guardiola substituted Bobb for Jérémy Doku, hoping that his speed would make a difference. However, despite making progress towards the goal, Haaland’s arm hit Mee and City’s chance was once again foiled.
However, Haaland’s 17th league goal of the season turned City’s evening into one of joy. On the other hand, in the red side of Merseyside, the sentiment is quite the opposite. Despite the loss, Frank was able to find a glimmer of hope for the future in his team’s performance.
Source: theguardian.com
