City turn disastrous start into incredible comeback victory inspired by departing De Bruyne
Manchester City welcomed Crystal Palace to the Etihad for the Premier League’s lunch time kick off this Saturday. This was following a rather dull derby the weekend before and it was clear that City would need to be much more fired up if they are to go on and finish this season in a strong position. Ederson started in goal. Lewis, Gvardiol, Dias, and O’Reilly started as the back line. Gonzalez, Gundogan, and Kovacic were in the midfield with De Bruyne and Mcatee in attacking midfield with Haaland the sole striker.
City didn’t start the game too well at all if anything it was a major scare for them initially, going 1-0 down after just six minutes after Palace very easily calved them open down the right wing with a ball in from Sarr gliding past the face of the defence to Eze who knocked it in to make it 1-0 to the Eagles. Another poor start for the Blues. Moments later around the 10th minute mark, it looked like City would immediately bounce back with a through ball from De Bruyne up to Marmoush 1v1 with the goalkeeper, but he fluffed his lines and couldn’t get enough power on his shot and it was an easy save for the keeper. Amidst this frustration things quickly went from bad to worse for City when Palace won a corner in the 21st minute. Wharton’s ball in was met by Richards pinpoint header to double the Eagles’ lead.
Palace almost went 3-0 up when the ball found its way to Eze who struck it home but it was ruled offside. At that point it may have been totally irrecoverable for City and their Champions League hopes would have faced serious threat, but they had one moment of being bailed out by this call. De Bruyne took an effort from outside the box that looked certain to go in but it was off the post.
Luckily for City, they would have plenty more opportunities and the 30th minute mark was roughly the turning point. A free kick won just outside the area after a foul on Marmoush was to be taken by De Bruyne. The shot hit the post again but this time on the inside of it and in and City were back in the game. 1-2
Three minutes later the game was completely turned around after a cross in from O’Reilly went to Mcatee and laid it off to Gundogan who seemingly missed the ball but it fell to Marmoush who smashed it in to make the scores level. In just three minutes, Palace’s two goal cushion was wiped and City were back.
The scores were level at half-time and the first half ended with City momentum. The Blues did not let this slide in the 2nd half and made a very quick start. After a series of pinball near the area the ball was eventually with De Bruyne who passed the ball to Kovacic whose shot nestled into the far-left corner to give City the lead for the first time in the game. A goal and an assist for City’s departing legend. Many might still have been anxious that City could become complacent again and end up being caught on the counter like many times this season but there was no sign of that today and the Blues were well in firm control. In the 56th minute, a long pass from Ederson managed to go all the way to Mcatee, who rounded the goalkeeper and struck the ball home to give City a 2-goal lead and celebrated with a remarkable backflip. 4-2
From this moment on Palace rarely threatened, they had moments of threat but the City defence had sharpened up and managed to shut them down. City topped off the comeback in the 78th minute, when McAtee’s cross in was half cleared in the air and met by the boot of O’Reilly which took a deflection and in to make it 5-2. A three-goal victory for City and a massive well needed boost.
Other than a hairy moment in extra time where Lewis almost made an error and headed the ball into the back of his own net, the Blues closed the game out with relative ease.
A big win will hopefully give this City team confidence with tough challenges ahead, facing Everton away next Saturday who have been strong since the return of Moyes before facing Aston Villa three days later. City are used to challenges towards the end of the season but usually fighting for the title instead of Champions League qualification. Can they channel that energy once more to see the season out? Today’s performance may suggest so.