City 2 Crystal Palace 3
December 22nd 2018 att.54,340
This result was completely unexpected after thrashing Palace last season 5-0. Palace looked to be really well organized in defence and dangerous on the counter-attack. With City having almost 80% possession Palace only had three shots on target and scored from each one!
City took the lead through a well taken header by Gundogan from a pass from Delph after 27 minutes. However 6 minutes later an angled drive by Schlupp beat Ederson to level the scores. Two minutes later an amazing first time volley by Townsend from almost 30 yards whizzed into the top corner and City were 2-1 down - probably goal of the season.
It got worse in the second half when Walker who was not having the best of games gave away a penalty after Townsend had hit the post with a header. Palace scored from the spot and they were 3-1 up -disaster squared!
On came de Bruyne and a cross cum shot by Kevin found the net to give City some hope. In added time Jesus missed a header that might have given City a point so all the hard work and organization by Palace had paid off and City's home league record this season was gone.
With vital games to come over the next few weeks City have some work to do to retrieve the situation. We certainly missed Fernandinho in midfield. I am afraid Stones was nowhere near as good. The absence of David Silva too makes a difference and not starting with Aguero and De Bruyne was questionable.
City made 2 changes from the Everton game -Stones and Sterling were in for Fernandinho and Mahrez and Delph was skipper for the day. Both Aguero and de Bruyne were on the bench
Not too many visiting fans today
As early as the 2nd minute Delph has a shot saved by the keeper
Palace manage to clear the corner
Oh dear Zaha is up to his usual tricks
Looks like Roy Hodgson is having a word with him!
Another corner is cleared
City continue to attack but the mass Palace defence keeps them at bay
On 10 minutes Sane has a chance but hits the side netting with his shot
A shot by Benardo is blocked
Guaita is about to save yet again
The keeper saves from Sane
On 27 minutes a Delph cross is met by Gundogan....
...and the ball flies past the keeper into the net for a City goal - at last
It was his 4th goal of the season
Sane is chased by Wan-Bissaka who is also pretty fast and a City target!?!
City fans give referee Marriner some ironic cheers for awarding a corner and he bows in response!!
Pity the corner was not better-it went straight to the keeper
A Stones error gave the ball to Schlupp who evaded Walker and shot past Ederson from a narrow angle. Should the keeper have done better I wonder
The away fans have something to shout about
Two minutes later a clearance by Benardo was met first time by Townsend who hit an incredible shot into the top corner of the net and City were losing 2-1 - disaster
Now the Palace fans have something amazing to shout about
A Laporte header from a free kick for a foul on Sane goes wide
Zaha fouls Walker and a minute later gets a yellow for a foul on Gundogan
We have a choir to entertain us at half time despite the rain
Five minutes into the second half and on comes Aguero for Otamendi
Laporte heads wide at a corner
On 51 minutes Townsend hits the post with a header......
..the ball runs clear but Walker brings down Meyer and its a soft penalty to Crystal Palace
Milivojevic scores past Ederson and the visiting fans cannot believe it they are winning 3-1
Can City come back from this !
The Palace keeper has an easy catch to make
A shot by Meyer goes just wide and a ball boy thinking it was going out picks up the ball and in the end we had a dropped ball near the goal line - a bit unusual - like the score!
62 minutes and on comes Kevin for Delph
A shot from Gundogan goes just wide
De Bruyne is brought down by Aanholt.......
....and he gets a yellow card and from the free kick Sane hits the outside of the post - so near but alas no goal
On 85 minutes De Bruyne takes a shot or was it a cross from outside the area.......
....and it goes into the top corner to make it 3-2 and quick lads back to the centre no time for celebrations!
The North Stand have something to cheer about
A cross by de Bruyne is headed over the bar by Jesus -a good chance gone in a flash
The final added time gave us frantic moments at each end before the final whistle blew and Crystal Palace had won at City for the first time in 28 years!!
Team
Ederson 6.5, Walker 5, Otamendi 6 (Aguero 6) Laporte 6.5, Delph 7 (Bruyne 7.5), Stones 5.5, Gundogan 6.5, Benardo 6, Sane 6.5, Sterling 6 (Mahrez) Jesus 5.5
