Manchester City won 2-0 over Sheffield United promotion team in the 20th week of the English Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Monday (30/12).
In this match, Man City who acts as the host fully controls the course of the match. Nevertheless, The Citizens have difficulty being able to conquer goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Manchester City controlled the game by holding the ball possession to 72%. Pep Guardiola’s team also fired 16 shots but unfortunately 12 of them (75%) were off target.
The game has been running for 8 minutes, Sheffield United get a good chance. Lys Mousset’s header from a Callum Robinson cross is still wide to the right.
In the 17th minute, Rodrigo tried to send a breakthrough bait to Riyad Mahrez. However, Mahrez’s left foot shot could still be blocked by Sheffield United’s defense.
Four minutes later, it was Kevin De Bruyne’s turn to see his shot being blocked by the visitors’ defenders. Rodrigo followed an attempted shot which still failed to meet the target in the 23rd minute. Pressed by Manchester City, Sheffield United is still got a chance. Mousset and John Egan alternately threatened the Citizens’ goal in the 25th minute.
Man City who were absorbed in attack were shocked by the visitors’ quick counterattack in the 29th minute. Breakthrough bait from midfield successfully converted into goals by Lys Mousset.
Unfortunately for the visitors Mousset’s goal was disallowed by referee Christopher Kavanagh after watching a video of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) rerun. Mousset was considered to have been in an off-side position so the goal against Claudio Bravo was considered invalid.
After the disallowed goal, Sheffield held out more to hold the onslaught of Man City. Sheffield’s multi-layered defense prevented Man City from scoring until the first half ended.
In the second half Man City managed to break the deadlock when the game has been running for seven minutes. Kevin De Bruyne’s breakthrough bait was not wasted by Sergio Aguero to make the score 1-0.
The Argentine striker’s directional kick fooled Henderson who did not move to see the ball into the goal.
Winning 1-0 does not necessarily make Man City satisfied. Aguero et al continue to put pressure until finally able to score the second goal against Sheffield.
This time it was De Bruyne who put his name on the scoreboard. He cleverly put the ball to the far post after receiving a breakthrough bait from Riyad Mahrez in the 82nd minute.
Score 2-0 makes Man City slowly relax the pressure. Instead Sheffield struggled to keep pace, but the score 2-0 to win the host lasted until the referee blew the long whistle the match was over.
