Man City can't shake Crystal Palace curse as Pep Guardiola faces familiar issue
Never mind the chance to become the best team in the world Manchester City can’t shake off the Crystal Palace curse.
Twice during Pep Guardiola’s reign Crystal Palace have turned up here to defy the odds and make off with three points. This time 2-0 down and looking down and out Roy Hodgson’s battling side came back from the dead to snatch an unlikely draw.
For 75 minutes it appeared that City had placed the FIFA Club World Cup to the back of their minds as they led and had rattled up chance after chance. But back came Palace with Jean-Philippe Mateta at the heart of the revival, scoring and earning the added time penalty which Michael Olise calmly slotted past Ederson.
It means that City will fly off to Saudi Arabia wondering what has hit them. It’s the first time in seven years that they have gone three home games without a victory. Now they will be hoping to get their goal machine Erling Haaland who missed this encounter fit for Tuesday night’s semi-final against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.
City had launched a footballing tsunami to lay siege to Palace from the kick off. The biggest surprise was Hodgson’s side stayed afloat until the 23rd minute when Jack Grealish finally breached a stubborn defence with a calm finish to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time.
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Until then City had clocked up the chances, Julian Alvarez beginning the onslaught with a smart header from Kyle Walker’s cross which produced an outstanding save from Dean Henderson. Ruben Dias fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box, Rodri saw his goal bound effort spin around the post via Marc Guehi’s outstretched foot.
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Crystal Palace scored a 95th-minute equaliser (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)Then came the breakthrough, a wonderfully crafted goal to examine whether Palace had a Plan B. With little space to manoeuvre Dias and Phil Foden combined to release Grealish who slotted with absolute precision past Henderson. After another ridiculous interminable wait for a VAR offside decision Stockley Park finally confirmed that Grealish could enjoy a second celebration.
It was surely now a case of how many with Palace looking bereft of any adventure. But three minutes before the break a brilliant ball from Olise saw Mateta bearing down on City’s goal. Ederson came racing out of his area to poleaxe the Palace striker in exchange for a yellow card. Olise fizzed the free-kick just over the bar.
But it was business as usual in the second half as once again City went on the prowl with menace and intent. An Alvarez free-kick which had deceived Henerson was chalked off after Rodri who attempted to head it was ruled to be offside. Palace’s reprieve was shortlived as City did make it 2-0 in their next attack.
Manchester City gave away a two-goal lead (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Grealish battled his way to the edge of the area and his ball into the danger area looped up off Jeffrey Schlupp but into the path of Rico Lewis who drilled in his first Premier League goal which also needed a VAR check. Then came the incredible Palace finale.
Tyrick Mitchell’s 75th minute long ball found Schlupp who accelerated into the box and crossed for Mateta to force past Ederson inside the six yard box. And when Foden brought Mateta down in the box two minutes into added time referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot and Olise did the rest.
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