Leeds United 1 – Manchester City 3 – HT 0-1
Struijk (73) Rodri (45’+1), Haaland (51, 64)
Assists –
Greenwood (73) Grealish (51, 64)
Not who you want to be playing the first game back after the World Cup break.
Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals as Manchester City overcame a stubborn Leeds to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to five points.
Frustrated by a disciplined and determined home side and their own profligacy for much of the first half at Elland Road, City snatched the lead just before the break through Rodri’s follow-up finish and then sped into the distance in a one-sided second half.
Having seen a couple of efforts saved early in the game, Haaland – playing in the city of his birth against the side he supports – did not celebrate his goals but showed little mercy in securing them to bring up his impressive tally in just his 14th game of the campaign.
He could not miss for his first, set up in front of an open goal by the unselfish Jack Grealish, who himself had missed a hat-trick of good opportunities in the first 45 minutes.
Grealish was the provider again for Haaland’s second, which he slotted in from close range following a deflection to give Leeds too much of a deficit to overcome.
In keeping with their display, the home side refused to lie down and got a goal back through Pascal Struijk’s header from a corner.
And they could have set up a grandstand finish had Joe Gelhardt’s poked finish not trickled the wrong side of the post.
No shock in the result, but need to move forward as it’s very tight at the bottom, 12th to 20th are only separated by 6 points.
Don’t want another relegation fight, though we are one position worse off, compared to last season and it wasn’t as tight regarding the point’s difference.
League position 15th after 15 games – After 15 games last season, Leeds were 14th.
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