Mateo Kovacic stars as Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
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Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic (second from left) stepped up admirably in the absence of midfield maestro Rodri.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
LONDON – Pep Guardiola said Mateo Kovacic is “really important” to Manchester City after the Croatian midfielder’s double clinched a dramatic 3-2 English Premier League win against Fulham on Oct 5.
Guardiola’s side suffered a first-half shock when Andreas Pereira put Fulham ahead at the Etihad Stadium.
But Kovacic, filling in for the injured Rodri, struck either side of half-time to settle City’s nerves. His brace was followed by Jeremy Doku’s blistering strike before Rodrigo Muniz netted Fulham’s second to set up a tense finish.
City remain unbeaten in their first 10 games in all competitions this season, with five wins from seven league matches putting them firmly in contention for a fifth successive title.
They sit in second place, one point behind leaders Liverpool after ending a run of two consecutive draws in the top flight.
Questions have been asked over how City will cope without the influential Rodri after the Spain international was ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
But while Guardiola may have been concerned at how Fulham were able to take control for spells, in Kovacic they have an able deputy.
“I’m very happy he scored two goals,” the City boss said. “He’s not a guy who scores goals. Maybe he saw Rodri, the goals he’s scored in that position.
“When they defend with five at the back, there is one man free in the 18-yard box and that is Kovacic.
“The two goals is because they cannot defend that position. The first goal was brilliant and the second one as well. Kova was really important but now the opponents know they cannot leave him alone, otherwise he can score a goal.”
Manchester City’s Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic (centre) shoots to score their second goal against Fulham.
PHOTO: AFP
It was a memorable day for Kovacic. The 30-year-old said: “It means a lot because my wife is pregnant, so it was great to get some goals for the little one.
“It’s nice to score but the most important thing is the team and that we won.”
City started strongly with Ilkay Gundogan driving just wide and Erling Haaland shooting across the face of goal, but they switched off in the 26th minute.
Failing to deal with a deep cross from Antonee Robinson, City allowed the ball to be worked inside to Raul Jimenez, whose clever backheel flick dropped perfectly for Pereira to volley home.
Guardiola’s men began their fightback just after the half-hour mark. Kovacic drove in from the edge of the box, via a deflection off Joachim Andersen, after a corner fell to him invitingly.
The former Chelsea star then put City ahead with an assured finish two minutes after the break. Bernardo Silva’s lay-off found Kovacic and he did the rest, curling home from the edge of the box.
Doku bagged the vital third goal in the 82nd minute as he cut inside from the left and rattled a shot into the top corner.
Fulham made City work until the end as Muniz scored with a deflected shot two minutes from full-time. AFP
