Manchester City beat Leicester City 2-0 for their first away win in over two months
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Erling Haaland heading home Manchester City's second goal in their 2-0 English Premier League win over Leicester City at the King Power on Dec 29.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
LONDON – Pep Guardiola enjoyed a bit of respite on the occasion of his 500th match at the Manchester City helm, as they registered a nervy 2-0 triumph over Leicester City on Dec 29.
It was just their second win in their last 14 matches in all competitions.
In the transient world of football, Guardiola is the first English Premier League manager to reach that milestone for a single club since David Moyes for Everton in January 2013.
Guardiola told Sky Sports: “Our mood is in a better position. It was tight in the second half, they were much better.
“We don’t have energy to sustain 90 minutes. Hopefully, the New Year can help us bounce back... It is not enjoyable right now, it is just relief.”
Savinho opened the scoring at the King Power Stadium in the 21st minute with his first goal for City since his summer arrival from Girona.
It came after Jakub Stolarczyk, who was making just his second Premier League appearance, failed to parry a routine long shot from Phil Foden to safety, and the 20-year-old Brazilian capitalised, reacting quickest to rifle the ball high into the net.
On either side of that opener, Erling Haaland had two first-half chances.
On seven minutes, he connected with a Kevin de Bruyne cutback but was denied by Stolarczyk. In the 36th minute, he fashioned a chance all by himself, using some neat footwork and raw power to bustle into the box, but his shot went just wide.
However, it was by no means one-way traffic in an open first half.
The champions had a massive let-off on 10 minutes, when Leicester striker Jamie Vardy was sent through by an outside-foot through ball by Facundo Buonanotte and the 37-year-old was taken out by Stefan Ortega.
But the custodian was saved from repercussion by the offside flag.
Highlighting City’s lack of confidence during their wretched run of form, Josko Gvardiol twice made mistakes which led to chances for the Foxes.
Two minutes before the opener, the Croatian defender’s header back to Ortega was too short, allowing Vardy to pounce, but the angle was too tight for him to sneak the ball into the goal.
On 38 minutes, the Foxes came even closer when Gvardiol’s poor headed clearance in the box eventually fell to Buonanotte but the 20-year-old Argentinian’s header came off the post.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, who came into the match in the relegation zone after losing their last three matches, started the second half stronger as well.
On 62 minutes, from a Leicester free kick, Manuel Akanji had to clear James Justin’s back-heel off the line after the fullback was set up by Vardy’s header.
Six minutes later, Vardy had a chance of his own when his outstretched boot connected with a cross from Stephy Mavididi but the ball went over the bar. Perhaps a diving header rather than a flying foot would have been a better option for the former England striker.
Then on 74 minutes, City struck with their first shot on target of the second half.
A floated Savinho cross found the head of Haaland to end his three-game goal-less run in the league.
That proved enough for City to register their first away win in all competitions since Oct 20.
It was also their first clean sheet away from home in the Premier League since their season-opening win over Chelsea.
Haaland told Sky Sports: “It’s good to win. I’m just happy we’re winning.
“It’s always a relief when you score. Leicester did a really good game, we knew it was going to be difficult... It’s been a difficult time. It’s New Year, so don’t think too much about football, now we can rest a little bit.”
