Man City romped home to comfortable 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Cardiff City to reclaim their top spot in the Premier League standings, courtesy of first-half goals fr om Kevin de Bruyne and Leroy Sane.
Pep Guardiola’s side made easy work of Cardiff right from the kick-off and City’s dominance didn’t take long to produce the results. Aymeric Laporte played a wonderful through ball to find the run of de Bruyne, who outsmarted Sean Morrison and beat goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from a seemingly impossible angle to put the home side in the driver’s seat just 6 minutes into the game.
The Citizens maintained their stranglehold on the proceedings and continued to create plenty of chances in the final third. De Bruyne ran clear through on goal from a counter-attack and set it up on a platter for Gabriel Jesus to double the advantage but the Brazilian made a complete mess of the chance, leaving de Bruyne fuming at the wastefulness.
City, however, did manage to double their advantage just before the half-time interval. Riyad Mahrez’s cross from the right was flicked on by Jesus for Leroy Sane to make it 2-0. Guardiola’s side carried an unassailable advantage into the break and Cardiff never looked like getting back into the game.
The second half, though, belonged to a man who was making his first start in the Premier League. Phil Foden completely ran the show in the second forty-five minutes and tormented Cardiff City’s backline. Played in behind the defence by Fernandinho, Foden’s effort was kept out by Etheridge early in the second half.
Foden continued to wreak havoc and produced a delightful pass for Laporte to call the keeper into action once again before being denied a goal by the crossbar. A few minutes later, Foden showed his ability to score from range with his powerful left foot but Etheridge was equal to the task and did enough to deny the youngster a goal on his first start.
Cardiff looked totally clueless but the Bluebirds had a golden chance to pull one back late in the game. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing initiated a brisk counter-attack to catch the City defence by surprise, laying it off for Oumar Niasse who took one touch too many and failed to convert a clear goal-scoring chance.
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While the result put the pressure back on Liverpool in the title race, Neil Warnock might just feel that their time in the Premier League is slowly but surely coming to an end.
Twitter Reactions
I’ve done it!
20 years without missing a @ManCity home league game
Thanks to everyone who’s given me lifts, accepted I won’t be at their weddings, christenings, birthday parties and stag do’s!
C’mon City pic.twitter.com/9rYCKg3Dli
— Thegingerwigmcfc (@thegingerwig) April 3, 2019
What a goal this is from @DeBruyneKev ! This is why he’s one of the best in the world!#MCI @SkySportsPL #premierleague https://t.co/lCbD5CHQhX
— ashley pearson (@1995_pearson) April 3, 2019
What I got from #MCICAR, a big difference between #LFC and #MCI attacking is long-shot from outside the box. It has changed the game for them many times this season. Liverpool has really lacked about this.
— Thun (@Thun2819) April 4, 2019
Big. A very cool performance indeed.
Movement, link-up and touches from Gabs were top class. Foden slotted in effortlessly, right at home with maturity, drive and skill. What a fucking talent that lad is. Danilo great on both sides. KDB is 100% back. Ferna calm. Eddy 👊#MCICAR pic.twitter.com/tT4X3ZbXsb
— We’re Not Really Here (@esteighteen80) April 3, 2019
Man City have not lost a midweek Premier League home game since May 2010 (where we lost against Spurs).
22 Wins
5 Draws#MCICAR #ManCity pic.twitter.com/Ju1M3yk69x— Superbia Proelia (@SuperbiaProeIia) April 3, 2019