Thanks to super dribbler Jeremy Doku, Manchester City gets the much-needed win against Brentford FC and increases the pressure on league leaders Arsenal.
The outstanding Jeremy Doku has preserved Manchester City’s chances of winning the English Premier League. The winger played outstandingly in the 3-0 (0-0) win on Saturday against Brentford FC and took the lead (61st minute). Erling Haaland (75th) and ex-Frankfurt substitute Omar Marmoush (90th + 2) increased.
Coach Pep Guardiola’s team thus reduced the gap to leaders Arsenal FC to two points. Arsenal can still improve on West Ham on Sunday at 5.30 p.m. (live ticker on sportschau.de), but Manchester could score additional points in the catch-up game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday (9 p.m.).
For Brentford, with German international Kevin Schade and former youth international Vitaly Janelt in the starting line-up, the defeat on the 36th of 38 matchdays was a setback in the close battle for the starting places in the European Cup.
Always a documentary
The first half was an extremely one-sided affair with City scoring 15-1. Brentford rarely got over the halfway line, let alone into the hosts’ penalty area. Manchester sometimes besieged the opponent’s goal in the style of a superior ice hockey team.
The good thing for City: They just had to pass the ball to the left side and it became dangerous. Because Jeremy Doku was lurking there, repeatedly dribbling and dizzying his opponents. Only the last pass from the goal line into the backcourt rarely found a taker.
Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku (r.) in a duel with Brentford’s Michael Kayode
Brentford were lucky to go into the break without conceding a goal with their wall tactics. City striker Erling Haaland alone had three dangerous final situations.
Brentford braver in the second half
After the break, Brentford became bolder and stopped Manchester’s constant pressure. There were also chances of our own, with Igor Thiago testing Gianluigi Donnarumma from close range (55′). Thiago is Haaland’s only serious challenger in the Premier League top scorers list.
However, the courage was not rewarded because the goal came from the other side, of course through Doku. Once again he moved from the left side and this time had the necessary luck. After a bad pass, he won the ball back and shot with precision into the top right corner.
Penalty-worthy foul against Schade?
In the 72nd minute, Brentford called for a penalty after Schade fell in a duel with Matheus Nunes – slightly pushed while running and probably hit in the foot. However, referee Michael Salisbury allowed play to continue and was not sent to the screen by the VAR.
Haaland rummages through
Shortly afterwards, Haaland was there. A strong start from Antoine Semenyo started the scene and Haaland fought his way through directly in front of the goal, ultimately scoring with his sole to make it 2-0. It was his 26th goal of the season, Brentford’s Thiago has 22 goals.
In stoppage time, Haaland gave Marmoush a long-awaited sense of achievement with a beautiful pass. The attacker from Egypt took the ball strongly and finished into the left corner – it was only his second goal of the season.
