Man City extended their winless streak on the road to six games as they battled to a dramatic 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace in a rainy and windswept encounter at Selhurst Park on Saturday. The game saw Rico Lewis emerge as both hero and villain for City, scoring a stunning goal before being sent off late in the match.
First Half Action
Crystal Palace wasted no time in stunning their visitors, taking the lead in just the fourth minute. Daniel Muรฑoz latched onto a clever pass from Will Hughes, coolly slotting the ball into the far corner past Cityโs goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. The early goal set the tone for a spirited Palace performance.
City responded with patience and precision, eventually finding their equalizer in the 30th minute. Erling Haaland, who has been a consistent threat in front of goal, leapt high to meet Matheus Nunesโ pinpoint cross, powering a header into the net to level the score.
Second Half: A Tale of Twists and Turns
The second half began with both teams pressing for control, but it was Palace who struck first. Against the run of play, Maxence Lacroix made it 2-1 for the home side in the 56th minute. Completely unmarked in the box, Lacroix nodded home a corner from Hughes, reigniting the hope of a shock win for Palace fans.
Manchester City, however, were not ready to give up. In the 68th minute, Bernardo Silva showcased his creative brilliance, threading a perfect through ball to Rico Lewis. The young midfielder made no mistake, blasting the ball past the Palace keeper to make it 2-2.
Late Drama: Lewis Sent Off
The final minutes of the match were packed with drama. In the 84th minute, Cityโs night took a turn for the worse as Rico Lewis received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Trevoh Chalobah, leaving his team to finish with 10 men. Despite being a man down, City held on to secure a point.
Where They Stand
The draw keeps Manchester City in fourth place in the Premier League table with 27 points from 15 matches, while Crystal Palace remain in 16th place. The result will leave Pep Guardiola concerned about Cityโs inability to secure wins away from home, as their streak without a victory on the road now stretches to six games.
Key Performances
- Rico Lewis: A rollercoaster night for the youngster who scored a crucial goal but saw red late in the game.
- Erling Haaland: Reliable as ever, his headed goal kept City in the fight.
- Will Hughes: The creative spark for Palace, providing two vital assists.
