Manchester City continued their impressive form by securing a vital 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday. The win propelled them to the top of the league, with Arsenal not playing until Tuesday, giving them a significant advantage in the race for the title.
Haaland Scores From Penalty Spot
Erling Haaland, who joined City in the January transfer window, opened the scoring for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 7th minute after Julian Alvarez was fouled in the box. Haaland calmly converted from 12 yards, sending the Fulham goalkeeper the wrong way.
Vinicius Strikes Back
Despite the early setback, Fulham remained composed and created several opportunities to equalize. Their persistence paid off in the 15th minute when Carlos Vinicius scored a stunning equalizer. The Brazilian striker received the ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful strike that left City goalkeeper Ederson rooted to the spot.
Alvarez Scores Spectacular Winner
City, however, did not let the setback affect them and continued to dominate the game. They were rewarded just before halftime when Alvarez scored a spectacular goal to give his side the lead once again. The Argentine winger received the ball on the right flank and cut inside before unleashing a curling shot that beat the Fulham goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, and found the top corner.
City Press for a Second
The second half saw both teams play with a lot of intensity, with City looking to extend their lead and Fulham searching for an equalizer. City manager Pep Guardiola made a few tactical changes to his side, bringing on Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden to add more firepower to the attack.
Grealish’s Frustrations
Despite City’s best efforts, Fulham held on and came close to equalizing in the dying minutes of the game. City winger Jack Grealish was involved in a couple of incidents with referee Simon Hooper during second-half stoppage time, including one where he felt he was fouled by Kenny Tete, but the decision went against him.
Guardiola’s Discontent
At full-time, Guardiola was seen having a deep conversation with the fourth official, Graham Scott, presumably over decisions which were made during the 90 minutes. It was evident that Guardiola was not entirely happy with some of the calls made by the officials.
Conclusion
Overall, it was an impressive performance by City, who showed resilience and determination to grind out a crucial win. The victory over Fulham was a fitting follow-up to their impressive win over Arsenal earlier in the week. MEN Sport covered the game, highlighting some key moments that may have gone unnoticed during the match at Craven Cottage.
Looking Forward
With just a few games left in the season, City will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure the Premier League title. They face a tough challenge in their next game, with a trip to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa, who have been in impressive form of late. However, with the form they are in, City will be confident of getting a positive result and taking another step towards the title.
