MANCHESTER, England — While Sam Allardyce managed to cease Erling Haaland on Saturday, he couldn’t halt Manchester City’s relentless march towards the English Premier League title.
Two first-half objectives from Ilkay Gundogan noticed the defending champions beat Leeds 2-1 at Etihad Stadium and lengthen their lead on the high of the desk to 4 factors.
But the relegation-threatened guests, in new supervisor Allardyce’s first recreation in cost, supplied a late scare when substitute Rodrigo struck moments after Gundogan missed from the penalty spot.
Ultimately, City prolonged its unbeaten run to twenty video games in all competitions and moved Pep Guardiola nearer to a 3rd straight league title.
With second-placed Arsenal dealing with a troublesome journey to Newcastle on Sunday, City’s lead may look much more commanding by the tip of the weekend.
Leeds’ sorry run stands at six video games and not using a win, with the combat for survival turning into extra determined by the week.
Gundogan’s objectives within the house of eight first-half minutes put City on target for victory.
The house staff was so dominant that it may even afford for its main scorer to have an unusually off day as Haaland missed a bunch of possibilities so as to add to his 51 objectives this season.
At one level, the Norway worldwide laughed at himself as one other scoring alternative glided by.
By the time he hit the put up after firing previous Leeds goalkeeper Joel Robles within the second half, it was clear it wasn’t going to be his day.
He even handed over penalty duties to Gundogan in a while to present the City captain the possibility to finish his hat trick, just for him to hit the put up.
Guardiola appeared livid about that call, which appeared much more pricey when Rodrigo struck virtually instantly after to arrange an unexpectedly nervy end.
Even after his penalty miss, Gundogan nonetheless proved the match-winner. He scored within the nineteenth and twenty seventh minutes from Riyad Mahrez passes.
Gundogan missed from the spot within the 84th, and Rodrigo pulled one again for Leeds a minute later.
City is marching towards a treble of trophies, with the primary leg of the Champions League semifinals in opposition to Real Madrid developing on Tuesday and a spot within the FA Cup remaining in opposition to Manchester United already secured.
It is the alternative story for Leeds, with the Yorkshire membership in a determined scrap to keep away from relegation.
Allardyce was employed to offer the elevate that always comes with a change of supervisor. Yet even essentially the most optimistic of followers would have feared the worst forward of a visit to City, a frightening task for any coach not to mention a brand new one.
Sure sufficient, hopes of a shock win have been successfully blown away earlier than the sport was a half-hour outdated.
Allardyce’s techniques have been clear. Sit deep and attempt to frustrate City. With 10 gamers guarding the field, Leeds shut down the house for City to maneuver the ball round within the remaining third.
It was efficient for about 10 minutes.
Gundogan broke Leeds’ resistance with a exact shot into the underside proper nook after Mahrez picked him out on the sting of the realm.
Gundogan’s second got here once more from a Mahrez move.
Haaland mis-kicked when via on objective once more, however such was City’s dominance he may chuckle at himself for losing one other likelihood.
Leeds did nicely to maintain the rating down, even when Haaland’s wayward ending performed an element in that.
He had a header saved by Robles within the second half after which noticed a spinning effort hit the put up. He appeared like getting his likelihood to finish his frustrations when Phil Foden was fouled by Pascal Struijk within the field.
Haaland opted to present Gundogan the spot kick, however the midfielder’s shot struck the put up.
Guardiola appeared livid – and had extra purpose to be upset when Rodrigo slipped a shot previous Ederson.
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