Without Erling Haaland and after four games without scoring three points, Manchester City finally regained victory. Luton took the lead first, but the citizen team managed to turn the score around with two goals in three minutes. City had not won in the Premier since November 4 (6-1 against Bournmouth) and arrived in great need after Wednesday’s defeat against Aston Villa. Haaland’s injury, with a bone stress injury in his foot that could keep him out of the field for several weeks, did not bode well. Julian Álvarez took his place at the top of the attack and Luton, a newly promoted team, made things difficult for him with a strong defense, a great goalkeeper and a goal from Adebayo just before the break. But he trusted in his superiority and with patience managed to turn the game around to stay in the fight for the leadership defended by Liverpool, now 4 points behind the citizen team.
City dominated the first half, but lacked punch. Rodri tried with a powerful shot from outside the area and Foden also tried from outside, but without luck. Luton’s great defensive performance, and the masterful interventions of their goalkeeper, Thomas Kaminiski, the most outstanding of their team, allowed the newly promoted to resist against Manchester City. It was not until after half an hour of play that Townsend had Luton’s first chance on an isolated counterattack, but his shot went too centered, straight into Ederson’s hands. And when it seemed that the first half would end goalless, the surprise arrived. Luton took the lead in added time on a counterattack on the right flank. Townsend hung the ball inside the small area and Elijah Adebayo finished with a header without much opposition from the citizen defense. A blow for Guardiola’s team, who would have to row at Kenilworth Road to avoid leaving empty-handed.
If Luton’s defense was already a wall at 0-0, with the score in their favor they remained locked behind, making it practically impossible for City to penetrate the area. If it was impossible inside, Guardiola’s men tried from outside and Ruben Dias hit the crossbar with a ball. The Manchester team completely dominated the game, but the goal was elusive, until he hit the table and managed to turn the score around with two goals in three minutes that changed everything.
Bernardo Silva equalized in the 62nd minute after a foul on the citizen team that the referee allowed to continue. The ball ended up inside the area and after a commotion, it ended up at the feet of the Portuguese who did not forgive. With no time to react, Jack Grealish completed the comeback with a 1-2 lead, taking advantage of a Luton loss in the midfield. Julián Álvarez put in the cross that the home defense narrowly missed and Grealish pushed it into the back of the net.
Luton, who wanted to get out of the relegation positions, did not give up despite seeing how City came back in the game in three minutes and Barkley was about to equalize in a counterattack that ended with a good shot from the English footballer . But Guardiola’s team wanted to secure the victory and had several good chances to score the third. He did not succeed and had to suffer a heart-stopping final few minutes in which Luton, pushed by their fans, desperately sought an equalizer. But after six eternal minutes of added time, City secured their first victory after four days without winning the three points.
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