[스포티비뉴스=장하준 기자]
Manchester City won 1-0 over Brentford in the 18th round match of the 2023-24 English Premier League held at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England on the 21st (Korean time). In the 26th minute of the second half, Erling Haaland scored the first goal of the day and his 17th league goal.
With this victory, Manchester City gained 56 points and moved up to second place in the league, surpassing Arsenal. They were trailing leaders Liverpool by 1 point. On the other hand, Brentford dropped to 14th place with 25 points.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola brought out the 4-1-4-1 formation. Erling Haaland was in the lead. Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez, and Oscar Babb appeared in the second line. Just below, Rodri guarded the defensive line. The back four consists of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Diaz, and Manuel Akanji. Ederson donned the goalkeeper’s gloves.
Brentford coach Thomas Frank faced a 3-5-2 formation. The two best players up front were Ivan Toni and Yoane Wisa. The midfield consists of Vitali Yanelt, Christian Nörgaard, and Frank Onyeka. The wingers on both sides were Sergio Reguilon and Mas Rörslev. The back three consists of Ben Mee, Christopher Ajer and Matthias Jorgensen. The goal was saved by Mark Plecon.
Only 3 minutes into the game, Holland attempted a shot from the right side of the box. However, this shot lacked enough power and ended up in the keeper’s arms. Holland continued to aim to score. In the 8th minute, he received a cross from the left and attempted a header in front of the goal, but the ball floated over the goal.
Two minutes later, Brentford had a good chance. Tony attempted a quick penetration pass towards Wisa, but Stones cleared him first, overcoming the crisis. Once again, Brentford seized the opportunity. This time, Tony received an incisive pass and seemed to have a 1-on-1 opportunity with Ederson, but the shot didn’t hit right and went straight in front of the keeper.
Manchester City took control of the game once again. Manchester City tried a passing game inside the Brentford box. Rodri and Foden shook the opposing defense by exchanging the ball, and in the process, shot Alvarez, who was in front of the box. However, Alvarez’s shot flew high above the goal.
In the 18th minute, Tony attempted a powerful right-footed free kick. This free kick flew over the Manchester City goal. Four minutes later, Tony turned his back on the opposing defender and gave the ball to an emerging player. However, Man City’s defense stopped well.
In the 25th minute, Manchester City received a corner kick. The kick went up, and a fight broke out at the gate for a moment. The second ball went straight to Alvarez, and Alvarez connected with a powerful shot, but it went wide of the goal. Alvarez had poor control of zero throughout the game that day. Two minutes later, Alvarez shot again, but this time he missed the goal.
In the 39th minute, Man City created the best chance of the day. After a mixed situation at the gate, Bob received the second ball. And having passed one of the opposing defenders, he attempted a correct shot. This shot went past all the players and headed into the goal, but Ben Mee, the final defender, blocked the shot in front of the goal. It was a very impressive save. Brentford managed to overcome the crisis thanks to Ben Mee’s resolute defence.
Brentford’s counter attack has begun. Wissa headed a cross from the right inside the box. However, Ederson jumped high and caught the ball. A minute later, Dias, who joined the attack, attempted a powerful right-footed shot inside the box. This shot was reliably blocked by Plecon. In the end, the first half between the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw.
As the second half began, Brentford had a chance to counter attack. Wisa made a quick dig, but Man City’s defense came back quickly and the chance was wasted. In the 5th minute, Rodri hit a left foot shot in front of the box, but this shot missed the goal.
Man City were shaken. In the 15th minute, a free kick was awarded, and Silva made a pass that caught the team off guard. However, the breathing was not good and the ball went out of the goal line. The pattern of the game continued with Manchester City continuing to press Brentford. However, Man City could not easily score the first goal. In the 20th minute, Ben Mee fell short after being hit by Haaland’s arm. In the 22nd minute, Brentford brought on Neil Maupay in place of Wisa. Immediately, boos poured in towards Mupay. This was because it was recently reported that Maupay had insulted Walker’s family during the match.
In the 23rd minute, Silva caught the ball and it flowed back during a corner kick situation for Manchester City. And Silva immediately went to Foden next to him. Foden immediately attempted a direct left foot shot, but it flew high above the goal.
In the 26th minute, came the first goal that Manchester City had been waiting for. The main character was Holland. While Brentford rose a bit, a quick pass from Man City and Haaland received the ball in the front line. The only defender who blocked Haaland was Ajer. However, Ajer slipped awkwardly in the process, and Holland immediately had a 1-on-1 opportunity. Holland scored easily into the net with a left-footed shot, giving Manchester City the first goal. It was his 17th league goal this season.
In addition, with this goal, Holland wrote a new history by scoring against all Premier League clubs. It was a feat that came just two years after entering the Premier League stage. That’s how much Holland shows his ability to score like a monster.
Immediately, Brentford launched a counter-attack. Tony tried a powerful right foot shot in front of the box, and even this shot went over the goal. Brentford missed an unfortunate chance.
In the 35th minute, Holland appeared to have scored an extra goal. Walker, who penetrated into the box, received Rodri’s lobbed pass and passed it straight to Holland, who was in front of the goal. The ball went past Plecken and headed to Haaland, who headed the ball into the empty net. However, Walker was declared offside and the score was cancelled.
After the first goal, Man City turned the ball around with ease. There was no rush. The ball developed slowly, putting pressure on Brentford. There were no significant opportunities for either team for a long time. Meanwhile, Foden broke into the box momentarily and attempted a powerful left-footed shot. However, this shot was blocked by a Plecon save.
Brentford converted to equalise. Samon Godos and Mikel Damsgaard deputized for Rörslev and Onjeka. Man City also made changes at the same time. Mateo Kovacic was substituted for Alvarez to strengthen the mobility of the midfield. The intention to protect the first goal was obvious.
Six minutes of extra time were given in the second half, and Foden immediately took the decisive opportunity. Foden momentarily passed one of the opposing defenders and then broke into the Brentford box on his own with a brilliant dribble. And after passing Plecon, he aimed to score with a left foot shot, but the shot hit the side net. The opportunity that could have put a wedge in the game was missed. After that, Foden’s left footed shot came from inside the box once again, but this shot was taken straight at Plecon. In the end, no more goals were scored and Man City managed to take three points.
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