Manchester City’s Premier League title celebrations were put
on hold again as
Manchester United fought back to win 3-1 at Aston Villa on
Sunday.
اضافة اعلان
Pep Guardiola’s side missed a chance to seal the title when
they lost 2-1 to Chelsea on Saturday.
City could have started the party if second-placed United
lost at Villa Park, but their arch-rivals kept the leaders’ champagne on ice
with a second-half escape act.
Trailing to Bertrand Traore’s first half rocket, United
equalized through Bruno Fernandes’ penalty before Mason Greenwood and Edinson
Cavani netted to leave City frustrated.
City, with three matches to play, are now 10 points clear of
United, who have four games left.
United host Leicester on Tuesday and Liverpool on Thursday,
with a defeat in either of those matches guaranteeing the title for City, who
are next in action at Newcastle on Friday.
The Europa League finalists would love to keep City waiting
as long as possible as they bid to earn a runners-up finish, which would be
their highest end-of-season position since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge in
December 2018.
But treble-chasing City’s blistering form has turned the
title race into a procession since the new year and it is only a matter of time
before their coronation is confirmed.
They will have to wait another 48 hours at least due to the
latest display of United’s fortitude.
Villa took the lead in the 24th minute through Traore, who
turned sharply in the penalty area and shrugged off Victor Lindelof before
smashing a superb strike into the top corner from an acute angle.
But Solskjaer’s team have been experts at second-half
comebacks this season and Paul Pogba won a 52nd minute penalty when Douglas
Luiz needlessly bundled over the United midfielder.
City’s Sergio Aguero had missed a penalty against Chelsea
with a risky ‘Panenka’ chipped effort, but Fernandes was far more clinical as
he sent Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez the wrong way from the spot.
Greenwood put United ahead four minutes later as he swiveled
past Tyrone Mings on the edge of the area and drove a low finish past Martinez’s
weak attempted save.
United suffered a blow when their captain Harry Maguire
limped off after colliding with Anwar El Ghazi.
But Cavani wrapped up the points with a glancing header from
Marcus Rashford’s cross in the 87th minute.
Villa striker Ollie Watkins was sent off moments later for a
second booking after diving in a failed attempt to win a penalty.
In Sunday’s early game, Brighton blew a chance to secure
their survival in a dramatic 2-1 defeat at Wolves.
Brighton took the lead after 13 minutes when Lewis Dunk
headed in Pascal Gross’ corner.
Graham Potter’s side needed a victory to be sure of avoiding
relegation.
But Brighton captain Dunk was sent off in the 53rd minute
after he pulled back Fabio Silva as the Wolves forward raced through on goal.
Wolves made the most of their numerical advantage in the
76th minute as Adama Traore fired home after exchanging passes with Silva.
Brighton were unable to hold on and Morgan Gibbs-White won
it for Wolves in the 90th minute with a fine finish for his first Premier
League goal.
Adding to Brighton’s woes, French striker Neal Maupay was
sent off for foul and abusive language after the final whistle.
The Seagulls are 10 points above the relegation zone, with
third bottom Fulham, who have four games left, playing Burnley on Monday.
Later, fifth-placed West Ham host Everton as they bid to
close the gap on fourth-placed Leicester.
The Hammers, making an unexpected charge for
Champions League qualification, are five points behind Leicester, who lost to Newcastle
on Friday.
Second bottom
West Bromwich Albion, 10 points from safety
with four games left, will be relegated if they lose at Arsenal in Sunday’s
last game.
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