Erling Haaland punishes costly slip-up to keep Man City's title hopes alive

20 February 2024 , 22:54

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Erling Haaland was mobbed by his Man City team-mates after his goal

All great strikers have an acute sense of timing – as Erling Haaland proved on Tuesday night.

Manchester City's star striker had been anonymous for much of this game, frustrated and thwarted by Brentford's discipline and resilience in nullifying his threat. But the best forwards only need one chance to turn a game and Haaland's came with 19 minutes left, when he was presented with a first real sight of the Brentford goal.

Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea cost Liverpool the title in 2014 and Ajer’s to allow Haaland to score could ultimately prove just as significant in this season’s race, a decade on.

Much had been made of Haaland's goal-drought, with two goals in seven appearances, but the Norwegian front man showed his enduring class with a clinical finish to score and seal the win. Victory took City up to second place, a point behind leaders Liverpool, who can extend their lead at the top with victory over Luton at Anfield on Wednesday.

Had City failed to win for the second home game in a row, it would have handed Liverpool the chance to put some daylight between themselves and Pep Guardiola's Treble winners. But City secured the win their perseverance deserved, even if it was hard going at times, to keep up the pressure on Liverpool, ahead of the meeting between the title rivals at Anfield on March 10.

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If hard-fought wins like this are the mark of champions, then this victory may yet prove decisive in deciding the destiny of this season's title race, which continues to look as though it will go down to the wire.

Jurgen Klopp's side may have swatted aside Thomas Frank's side 4-1 in west London at the weekend, but Brentford put up much more of a fight here, making City toil for the win. Haaland made his presence felt as early as the third minute, bundling Sergio Reguilon off the ball near the touchline, before sending a tame shot into the arms of Mark Flekken.

Although City dominated in terms of possession, they suffered a scare in the 10th minute when Ivan Toney threaded the ball through to Yoane Wissa, John Stones making a crucial interception just as he was about to pull the trigger.

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Erling Haaland was Manchester City's match-winner against Brentford

Frank Onyenka had a chance to give the visitors the lead, but shot straight at Ederson, while Toney sent a free-kick inches over the bar, as Brentford withstood City's early pressure to create openings of their own.

But the champions continued to pile on the pressure, Julian Alvarez blazing the ball over the bar, then steering a shot wide just before the half-hour mark. The chances continued to come and go, Bernardo Silva heading wide after clever build-up play involving Rodri and Walker.

Flekken came to Brentford's rescue twice in quick succession, tipping a Manuel Akanji shot over the bar, then blocking a header from Ruben Dias. Then, when the Brentford keeper was beaten, Ben Mee was there to clear off the line a goal-bound shot from Bobb.

Guardiola's frustration – and that of City's fans – grew with every missed chance, Foden scooping the ball high into the stand with 21 minutes remaining. But three minutes later, the deadlock was broken, City absorbing a Brentford attack before hitting on the break.

Rodri funnelled the ball out to Alvarez, who in turn found Haaland. With Kristoffer Ajer covering, there seemed little danger, but when the Brentford defender slipped and fell to the ground, Haaland seized the moment, surging forwards before finding the net with a clinical finish for his 22nd goal of the season.

City's fans were sent into delirium, Haaland was mobbed by his team-mates, while Guardiola celebrated by kicking a drinks cooler, the frustration replaced by relief at finally making the breakthrough City's play warranted.

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David McDonnell