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Giant slayer of Manchester United took on their town rival, Manchester City and was hoping to do a double over the city rivals.
Manchester City started the game brightly and with the intent never to underrated Sheffield United especially with their exploit earlier in the week.
It only took City 9 minutes before they took the lead. It was a shocking defending by Sheffield United and they would be kicking themselves to letting such an easy goal through. Ferran Torres was the man who orchestrated this with his resilience. He rose from the floor with the ball still in sight. He managed to squeeze his way through and was able to release a pass to Gabriel Jesus who had the easiest of goal to mark his first league goal since November and then his 3rd goal all season.
That was indeed sloppy from Sheffield United and it should have been easy to defend considering they had two people on Torres and yet he wiggled his way through. That marked City's 650th goal. City has been in a great form of late and that is why they are at the top of the summit. Sheffield is still waiting for the past 20 years to get their first goal against Manchester City.
In the 35th minute, Sheffield had their first shot on target even though it was a tame effort that was comfortably saved but it is worth trying and would bode well for their confidence.
Foden has been sensational this season. This game marked his 10th league start of the season which is more than what he achieved last season. His patience paid off and he has become a regular and I am sure one of the first names to be mentioned for the starting 11 with Gundogan. He is in a formidable form.
City couldn't add to their tally and all they had was possession with no shot on target. Sheffield United has been resolute in defence. The half time came and it is still 1-0 in favour of City.
Sheffield United had one or two chances earlier in the game which couldn't develop into a goal but this would give them the confidence and the optimism they needed for the second half. They would surely feel hard done by you have conceded that sloppy goal. They have played with bravery and desire.
The second half started as the first half ended with City dominating possession but couldn't get anything out of it and Sheffield United had a glorious chance when a rebound fell through but the effort was blasted away. What a chance that would have been. So close to the goal post.
A minute after, in the 61st minute, Sheffield United brought in their highest goal scorer for the season with 6 goals, McGoldrick. He came on for the substituted Brewster. McGoldrick is the only player to score more than 1 goal for the Blades this season.
City had a brilliant chance in the 72nd minute when Bernado Silva found Gundogan who in turn found Foden. Golden released a pass to the on-rushing Zinchenko who wasted no time than to fire a long shot but Ramsdal was up to the task. He stopped it and pushed it for a corner. The resulting corner was then headed by Laporte but his effort was again brilliantly saved for another corner by the goalkeeper.
John Fleck had a brilliant effort in the 86th minute when he brilliantly struck a shot that was just marginally off the post. It was a brilliant one and if only he had a bit of luck, it would have gone in. City should feel relieved with that. Sheffield United showing great intent to get something out of this game and knocking on City's defence.
They were outnumbering City at the back as they all came for the tap ins or header. A brilliant ball in from Fleck came in too in the 88th minute but it was gathered by the goalkeeper.
City hoped on a penalty in the 92nd minute when the ball struck the hand of a defender. The referee ruled it off for a corner instead because it was an inevitable handball and VAR confirmed it. City had a chance to take the game beyond Sheffield when Gabriel Jesus broke through in a one on one situation only for Ramsdal to save again for a corner. That should have been two for Gabriel Jesus and two for City but the bravery of the goalkeeper showed here.
City survived Sheffield United's late charges and held on for a win. The game ended 1-0 and City is now in a good place, seeing they still have a game at hand.
500 wins in Guardiola's managerial career with the win against Sheffield United and it is now 12 in a row for Manchester City but there is no denying the efforts of Sheffield United. City moved 4 points clear at the top of the table at the time this game ended. Sheffield United still stays button of the table with just 8 points in 21 games played.
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