City 2 Crystal Palace 2
Jan 18th 2020 att.54,439
Not the best of results for City on Pep's birthday with Palace equalizing in the final minutes. At least we got a point - more than we did when Palace last came to the Etihad! There were a few plus points - number one was the achievement of Sergio Aguero to score his 250th goal for City - and he added number 251 too! Another plus was the fact that David Silva started his 300th appearance in the Premiership - a City record.
Thoughts of Palace's last visit came to mind when the visitors took the lead at a corner late in the first half. All looked lost until Aguero's 250th with 8 minutes to go. Five minutes later Aguero put City ahead with a great header and it looked like three points but alas a Fernandinho own goal on 90 minutes cost us two points.
Mendy had a better game than usual but many of his crosses failed to find a City player. Crystal Palace had a well organized defence and many of City attacks fell down for the lack of space in the penalty area. I wish more shots would be taken from outside the area and earlier in an attack.
Many of City passes were slightly off target giving the Palace defence the ability to stop the continuity of the attack and then they were very quick on a break. Sterling is well off his best at the moment and has not scored a home goal since October.
VAR struck again overturning a City penalty in the first half.
City made three changes from the win at Villa. Sterling was back and Jesus and Mahrez were on the bench
The visiting fans filled two of their sections
De Bruyne shoots just wide
An effort by Silva is saved by the keeper
Only 20 odd years difference between the two managers!
McArthur trips Aguero and gets a yellow card
De Bruyne takes the free kick and the ball hits the underside of the bar......
....and bounces down the wrong side of the goal line and to safety much to the misery of the City fans behind the goal -
What a let-off for the visitors
An effort by Aguero is saved
The City corner is cleared
A possible foul by Stones is cleared by VAR - thank God
Mendy is brought down and Ayew is booked
Stones fouls Tosun and shortly after at a corner Cahill heads across the area ......
...to an unmarked Tosun who heads past Ederson to give Palace the lead on 39 minutes - disaster!
a minute later Ederson came rushing out and was only saved by Fernandinho being fouled by Tosun
The keeper saves a cross from De Bruyne
A shot by Benardo is well saved by the keeper
More saves by Guaita before half time
A cross by Benardo is blocked
Tomkins heads over at a corner
Mendy gets a yellow card for a foul on Ayew
Jesus on for Silva shoots just wide
....and the ball hits Riedewald's arm and City appeal for a penalty
Aguero waits to take the penalty -his 250th goal - oh dear - VAR has turned it down! Naughty VAR!
The sniper has struck again!
Then a cross from Jesus beats defenders and there is Aguero...
.......shooting home past the keeper to make it one all! Great stuff! His 250th goal for City!!!
The North Stand are delighted but there is no time for celebrations - we want a winner!
Problems for Palace in the box but it ends with a free kick for the visitors
On 87 minutes a Mendy cross finds the head of Sergio who heads down past the keeper to make it 2-1 for City - Magic
The North Stand explodes with the moment - surely it must be game over and three points!
Oh no - Palace break and alas Fernandiho accidentally puts the ball into his own net -disaster!!
It was right on the 90th minute - an unbelievable end to the game
There were a few added minutes but City could not do anything
Ederson 6, Cancelo 6.5, Stones 5.5,Fernandiho 7, Mendy 7.5, Gundogan 6, Silva 6 (Jesus), De Bruyne 7, Benardo 6.5 (Mahrez) Sterling 6 (Rodri) Aguero 8
