MANCHESTER, United Kingdom —
Pep Guardiola saluted Raheem Sterling's "massive
contribution" to
Manchester City after the forward scored his 100th
Premier League goal to give the leaders a 1-0 win against 10-man Wolves on
Saturday.
اضافة اعلان
Sterling netted from the spot in the second
half at the Etihad Stadium to clinch City's sixth successive league victory.
City's cause was aided by a needless first
half red card for Wolves striker
Raul Jimenez, who was dismissed for failing to
retreat the required 10 yards before a free-kick he had been booked for
conceding seconds earlier.
Sterling's landmark goal ensured City
capitalized on Jimenez's blunder as they survived an average display to get
back on track after the midweek Champions League defeat at Leipzig.
After struggling to get into Guardiola's
starting line-up at times this season amid talk of a potential transfer,
Sterling is finally showing signs of recapturing the scintillating form that
made him such a dangerous force.
"Big congratulations. He is still a
young player, and 100 goals is a lot. His contribution to this club is massive.
He is back scoring goals, has confidence. It's good," Guardiola said.
Guardiola's side are four points clear of
second placed Liverpool, who can close the gap if they beat Aston Villa at
Anfield later on Saturday.
"Against 11 players we were better. It
is not easy play against them with 10," Guardiola said.
"They defended really well. We suffered
against them last season, by not attacking in the right moments and they punish
you. But we were patient and deserved the win."
Kyle Walker was dropped to the bench after
City's right-back was criticized by Guardiola following his red card at
Leipzig.
Guardiola made eight changes from the Leipzig
game, with Phil Foden, troubled by an ankle problem, and Kevin De Bruyne,
recovered from the coronavirus, named as substitutes.
Bernardo Silva had scored six goals in his
previous eight league appearances and the City playmaker was inches away from
adding to that total when he bent a curler just over the bar in the opening
minutes.
Joao Cancelo's lung-bursting breaks from
right-back were a constant threat in the first half and he advanced again for a
low strike that tested Wolves keeper Jose Sa.
Sterling strikes
Wolves duo Max Kilman and
Ruben Neves needed
lengthy treatment after a nasty clash of heads that left Kilman with blood
pouring from a cut.
Jimenez, the victim of a fractured skull in
a collision with
David Luiz at Arsenal last season, was quick to check on his
team-mates, who were both able to continue playing.
It was Jimenez who didn't make it to
half-time as the Mexican saw red in needless fashion.
Booked for a tug on Rodri, Jimenez stupidly
stuck out a foot to block the resulting free-kick without retreating 10 yards,
earning his second yellow card 48 seconds after the first.
Jimenez ripped off his protective headband
and swung it around in frustration, but he could have no complaints about his
self-inflicted exit.
With the numerical advantage, City
monopolized possession after the interval.
Ilkay Gundogan met Cancelo's pin-point cross
with a looping header that Conor Coady nodded off the line.
Silva and Sterling got in each others way as
they failed to finish off Oleksandr Zinchenko's cross.
City's pressure finally produced a goal in
the 66th minute.
Joao Moutinho blocked Silva's cross with a
raised arm and, although the ball appeared to hit the midfielder's armpit, VAR
confirmed Jon Moss's decision after a check.
Sterling stroked the spot-kick down the
middle for his fifth goal in his last eight City appearances.
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