Kevin De Bruyne inspired a Manchester City fightback on his first taste of Premier League action for five months to beat Newcastle 3-2 and close to within two points of the top of the Premier League on Saturday.
The Belgian came off the bench to score and set up Oscar Bobb’s stoppage time winner to announce his comeback from a long-term hamstring injury in style.
A cruel late twist for Newcastle saw Eddie Howe’s men succumb to a sixth defeat in their last seven Premier League games.
But a point would have been more than Newcastle deserved after being thoroughly outplayed but for two goals in two first-half minutes that threatened to frustrate the champions.
Victory takes City up to second in the table, two points behind Liverpool, and ominously poised to strike when they return from a two-week winter break, by which point Erling Haaland may be fit to join De Bruyne in terrorising opposition defences.
A frantic encounter got off to a disrupted start as City goalkeeper Ederson was injured in his attempt to stop Sean Longstaff putting the ball into the net.
The goal was ruled out as Alexander Isak was clearly offside in the build-up and City were furious the flag was not raised earlier to prevent any damage being done to the Brazilian.
Ederson briefly carried on and nearly presented Newcastle with the opener as he was caught in possession, but Bruno Guimaraes failed to get a proper connection on his shot.
Thereafter, City dominated for the opening half hour but lacked the poise of De Bruyne or presence of Haaland up front to turn their possession into a cutting edge.
The Norwegian was sitting out the ninth consecutive game with a foot injury that is set to keep him out for at least the rest of the month.
When City did break the deadlock, it took a moment of brilliance from Bernardo Silva.
The Portuguese backheeled Kyle Walker’s low cross into the far corner on 26 minutes.
Moments later only a brilliant save from Martin Dubravka turned another sweet strike from Silva onto the post.
However, the match was transformed in a stunning two minutes and 18 seconds.
Guimaraes cut open the City backline with one stunning pass that freed Isak, who cut inside Walker and curled brilliantly into the far corner.
Seconds later, the Swede’s strike was surpassed as Anthony Gordon followed a similar route by turning inside onto his right foot and firing into the far corner.
Isak could even have given the home side a 3-1 half-time lead as he then failed to beat substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega when through one-on-one.
City restored their control of the game at the start of the second period, but again lacked a punch in attack until De Bruyne made his return to Premier League action for the first time since the opening day of the season.
The Belgian made his comeback in a 5-0 rout of Huddersfield in the FA Cup last weekend and quickly showed what the European champions have been missing.
De Bruyne latched onto Rodri’s pass 16 minutes from time and drove forward before placing a low precise finish beyond Dubravka from outside the box.
Despite his lack of game time this season, De Bruyne has still produced more assists than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues since the start of last season.
And another wonderful pass over the top for Bobb created the winner.
The young Norwegian still had plenty to do, but showed quick feet to round Dubravka and tap into an unguarded net to spark wild scenes of celebration from City boss Pep Guardiola.
In contrast to City’s jubilation, another defeat for Newcastle may have realistically ended their hopes of a top-four finish as they slip to 10th, still 11 points adrift of the Champions League places.
(AFP)
Follow us on:
Victor Okhai has argued that Trump’s presidency could encourage Nigeria to reduce foreign aid reliance…
Equatorial Guinea's VP has announced the suspension of officials involved in sexual misconduct within government…
Following outrage over the arraignment of minors, IGP Egbetokun has directed a probe into minors’…
Americans are headed to the polls to choose the next president in a tightly contested…
An Abuja court has struck out the case against #EndBadGovernance protesters as the AGF discontinued…
The UK has confirmed two more cases of the new mpox variant, clade Ib
View Comments
choice at a minimum amount NIGERIA 🇳🇬 CUST0M SERVICE REPLACEMENT FORM IS FINALLY OUT FOR 2024 /2025 BATCH B AND YOU CAN GET IT DIRECTLY FROM THE ZONAL HEADQUARTERS IN NIGERIA INTERESTED APPLICANT THAT HAS WAECE, NECO, NCE, ND, HND, BSC CAN APPLY PLEASE KINDLY CONTACT ME ON: FOR MORE INQUIRIES
BAGS OF RICE 35,500
VEGETABLE OIL 25.
LITTER 15,000
TOKUMBO VEHICLE FOR
SALE AT AUCTION PRICE
INTERESTED BUYER
SHOULD CONTACT
OFFICER MRSEZE.
[O9I 5608 9111 ]
CARS FEATURES AND
PRICE BELOW
Tipper head 6m
Dyan truck 900k
GOLF 2,3,4,5 #250,000
TOYOTA CAMRY BIG
DADDY #550,000
TOYOTA CAMRY
TINYLIGH= #350,000
TOYOTA CAMRY
MUSCLE= #850,000
TOYOTA CAMRY
PENCILLIGHT=#400,000
TOYOTA COROLLA
le=#550,000
TOYOTA COROLLA
S=#750,000
TOYOTA
VENZA=#950,00 1.8m
Tacoma 1,000,000
TOYOTA Hilux 1.5 million
TOYOTA AVALON
#800,000
TOYOTA AVENSIS
#700,000
TOYOTA RAV4 800k
TOYOTA SIENNA
#650,000
TOYOTA
4runner#950,000
Bus 900k
TOYOTA TUNDRA 1.9m
TOYOTA PICNIC
#550,000
TOYOTA Highlander
#950,000
TOYOTA PADRO JEEP
1.6m
TOYOTA LAND
CRUISER=1.5m
TOYOTA YARIS #459,000
TOYOTA MATRIX
#650,000
TOYOTA HAICE BUS
#750,000
ACCURA ZDX 1.6m
ACCURA MDX 1.9m
HONDA PILOT #950,00
HONDA BABY BOY
#550,000
HONDA END OF
DISCUSSION
HONDA ACCORD
#500,000
Honda CR-V #850,000
INFINITY fx450 #750,000
to 1.4m
NISSAN MURANO
#650,00
Es250 900k
LEXUS RX 350 #1.2m
LEXUS RS 330 # 1m
Gx460 2.7m
LEXUS RS 300 # 900,000
LEXUS RX 470 1.5m
Es3501mill
Range rover 3mill
All NEGOTIABLE WE
RENDER GOOD SERVICE
TO CUSTOMER ....{ E.T .C}
LOCATION AT OGUN
STATE IDIROKO BORDER WE
HAVE TWO OPTION
ELDER WE DELIVERY OR
YOU COME OVER IF WE
HAVE TO COME OVER WE
NEED THIS FROM YOU
{1} NATIONAL ID CARD
{2} BORDER PERMIT
{3} INSPECTION DOCUMENTS
{4} 2PASSPORT
THANKS FOR YOUR
PATRONAGE WE
DELIVER TO 36 STATE IN
NIGERIA AND ALSO
COME DOWN WITH THE
FULL PAYMENT CALL
FOR MORE
INFORMATION
{O9I 5608.9111 }