Manchester City drew within one point of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a 1-0 home win against Brentford on Tuesday, but Brentford had them work hard for every one of the three points.
With all three sides currently equal after 25 games played, the top of the Premier League standings reads as follows: Liverpool (57), Manchester City (56) and Arsenal (55). Three clubs are separated by two points, with Manchester City still scheduled to face Liverpool (away – March 10) and Arsenal (home – March 31).
Sometimes the first goal arrives early and the floodgates flow, and sometimes you have to wait, wait, and wait. Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken made 10 saves in Tuesday’s encounter, almost earning man of the match honors. Manchester City were inches away from breaking the stalemate in the 36th minute, piling on wave after wave of pressure. Pep Guardiola’s team had seven shots in seven minutes (1.18 xG combined), starting in the 30th minute, including the finest opportunity of the first half near the conclusion.
After Brentford had cleared a cross midway, Oscar Bobb received the ball on the left side of the penalty area. Bobb deftly faked the shot and slid by the onrushing Christian Norgaard, leaving a small shooting path with three defenders and Flekken blocking the route. Bobb eventually defeated Flekken and the other three Bees on the field, but a fifth, Ben Mee, slipped in behind the action and kicked the ball away just as it crossed the line.
Despite all of the well-worked opportunities (25 shots, 11 on target), it was the simplest, most basic of them all that eventually put the three-time reigning Premier League winners ahead. Julian Alvarez sent a fairly simple through ball to Haaland, and Kristoffer Ajer was on the scene, closing in rapidly — until he fell, and there was nothing but 50 yards of wide open, green grass front of him. Haaland sprinted in on goal, slotting his left-footed finish under Flekken from just beyond the area.
In the 80th minute, Haaland seemed to have scored his second goal of the game, heading the ball into an empty net from close range. However, video analysis determined that Kyle Walker had drifted inches offside as the first of two magnificent passes sliced through the defense and set up Haaland.
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Manchester City secures late victory against Brentford, making PL championship battle even closer.
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