December 16, (THEWILL) – Manchester City continued their recent run of dropped points in the English Premier League, as a 95th-minute Michael Olise penalty saw Crystal Palace claim a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The reigning champions had controlled the match and held a 2-1 lead going into injury time. However, Palace fought back valiantly, with Jean-Philippe Mateta pulling one back in the 78th minute before Olise converted the last-gasp spot kick to stun City.
City had started brightly, with Jack Grealish opening the scoring in the 24th minute. 17-year-old right-back Rico Lewis then doubled their advantage just after the break. This was before Mateta’s strike set up a tense finale, as the visitors capitalised on that momentum.
It is the fifth time in six league matches that Pep Guardiola’s side have failed to claim maximum points. They now sit fourth in the table on 34 points, three behind leaders Liverpool prior to the Reds’ clash with Manchester United on Sunday.
Guardiola’s men now switch focus to the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, which they enter as UEFA Champions League holders. This latest setback raises further questions about their EPL title credentials in an ever-tightening race.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
