Man Metropolis 2-1 Brentford: Participant scores as sensible Haaland evokes comeback win
Manchester Metropolis maintained their good begin to the brand new Premier League season with a 2-1 victory at residence to Brentford on Saturday.
Thomas Frank’s aspect shocked the hosts with a purpose virtually straight from kick-off however they have been in the end undone by the ruthlessness of Erling Haaland, who took his tally for the season to 9 from simply 4 outings.
The champions at the moment are the one crew to have taken 12 factors from 12 up to now this time period after Liverpool faltered towards Nottingham Forest.
How the sport unfolded
With solely 22 seconds on the clock, Brentford took a shock lead. John Stones sliced a clearance from a Keane Lewis-Potter header throughout the six-yard field, and Yoane Wissa popped as much as nod the free ball into the again of the web – the earliest residence purpose Metropolis have ever conceded within the Premier League.
Brentford went near doubling their lead shortly after when Bryan Mbeumo broke free, however he was pegged again by the retreating Rico Lewis. Ederson additionally needed to be alert to disclaim a first-time strike from Nathan Collins because the guests’ quick begin continued.
With their first alternative of be aware, Metropolis pulled stage. Kevin De Bruyne instinctively poked the ball into the trail of Haaland, who regardless of going through away from purpose, swivelled and located the far nook with a shot which deflected off the leg of Ethan Pinnock.
Metropolis have been beginning to discover their groove once more up towards a deep Brentford block, with De Bruyne lashing a strike from 25 yards narrowly broad, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than they have been forward – an extended ball from Ederson sailed over the Brentford backline and Haaland got rid of the problem of Pinnock earlier than dinking the ball previous goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Christian Norgaard made an important clearance to make sure Metropolis did not rating a fast third, whereas Savinho’s woeful dive within the field resulted in a yellow card.
The Bees have been nonetheless efficient in transition and must have made extra of a gap on the hour mark. Mbeumo’s ball to Lewis-Potter was good and Kevin Schade was ready for a faucet in on the again submit, however the winger’s cross skewed over the bar and Metropolis have been let off the hook.
Flekken needed to be at full stretch to push apart strikes from Grealish and Haaland as Metropolis sought to stretch their lead past any type of doubt, and the Dutchman additionally made an incredible save together with his proper foot to disclaim Savinho.
Haaland then struck the submit and compelled one other save out of Flekken as Brentford tried their finest to maintain the hosts out and sneak an equaliser, earlier than Yehor Yarmolyuk went near scoring a leveller as his shot trickled broad of the far submit.
GK: Ederson – 8/10 – Made some wonderful saves to maintain Metropolis within the contest, whereas he additionally got here up together with his fourth Premier League help. Could not have requested for rather more.
RB: Kyle Walker – 5/10 – A sluggish begin to the season wasn’t helped by a relatively haphazard show right here. Some free passes and touches threatened to harm his aspect.
CB: John Stones – 4/10 – In the event you have been to be form, then Stones was too undercooked when attempting to clear Lewis-Potter’s first-minute cross. That does not fly within the Premier League although and he ought to’ve identified higher to simply clear the hazard. Like Walker appeared off the tempo when it comes to his sharpness.
CB: Manuel Akanji – 6/10 – Made to make use of his restoration tempo early doorways when Brentford have been within the ascendancy straight out of the blocks.
LB: Rico Lewis – 6/10 – Arguably Metropolis’s strongest defender within the first half earlier than being withdrawn.
CM: Mateo Kovacic – 6/10 – Unfold play effectively when Brentford have been seeking to shut up store and shield their early lead. Like Lewis was taken off on the break.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne – 8/10 – Lacks the ability of his youthful years however stays one of many world’s finest passers, ever so easy together with his brilliance. Metropolis’s finest outfielder that wasn’t on the scoresheet.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – 6/10 – Handed his first begin for Metropolis for the reason that 2023 Champions League last. Slotted again in seamlessly with out conjuring up something spectacular.
RW: Savinho – 7/10 – Had pleasure attempting to interrupt free from the doubling up of Collins and Lewis-Potter. The one actual blemish on his document was a tragic dive simply after the interval, which earned him a pointless yellow card.
CF: Erling Haaland – 10/10 – The one cause folks aren’t shouting to the heavens that he could also be the very best participant on the earth is as a result of the whole lot Metropolis obtain comes with out the fanfare of different golf equipment. Astonishingly excellent as soon as extra.
LW: Jack Grealish – 6/10 – Having been free of the shackles of self-discipline whereas away with England, Grealish returned to his ‘reduce, maintain possession’ leash right here. Sigh.
Substitutes
SUB: Josko Gvardiol (46′ for Lewis) – 7/10 – Metropolis have been hardly troubled after his introduction on the break.
SUB: Rodri (46′ for Kovacic) – 7/10 – Equally performed on autopilot on his return from harm.
SUB: Bernardo Silva (84′ for Grealish) – 6/10
SUB: Ruben Dias (84′ for Stones) – 6/10
SUB: Matheus Nunes (90′ for Savinho) – N/A
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), James McAtee, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden
Supervisor
Pep Guardiola – 7/10 – Metropolis deserved to go behind however they rallied effectively to place that blemish behind them.
GK: Mark Flekken – 8/10 – It was one other busy day on the Etihad for the Dutchman, who ensured Brentford have been by no means completely out of sight together with his goalkeeping.
RB: Kristoffer Ajer – 6/10 – Did effectively to nullify Grealish, whereas his stunning quickness was an asset on the counter.
CB: Sepp van den Berg – 6/10 – A stable Premier League debut for the previous Liverpool defender. Did not shrink when Metropolis piled the strain on.
CB: Ethan Pinnock – 4/10 – Had the higher of Haaland prior to now, however the freakish Norwegian obtained his revenge right here, having extra of his manner up towards the Jamaica worldwide.
LB: Nathan Collins – 6/10 – Tucked inside to dam off the area for Savinho to function in, with Lewis-Potter retreating again down the flank to assist the Irishman out.
RM: Mikkel Damsgaard – 5/10 – Shunted to the best as Frank’s tactical switchup took form. Discovered pockets of area within the opening exchanges however that freedom was quickly retracted by Metropolis.
CM: Christian Norgaard – 6/10 – A ball magnet at occasions, coming to Brentford’s rescue with many an essential clearance.
CM: Vitaly Janelt – 5/10 – Energetic as standard, however sacrificed late within the day for Carvalho when physicality wasn’t sufficient.
LM: Keane Lewis-Potter – 6/10 – It was his header that led to Wissa’s opener, although he ought to have achieved extra to create additional probabilities. Labored exhausting to come back again and help Collins.
CF: Bryan Mbeumo – 6/10 – Hardly a classic recreation from Mbeumo however one wherein he nonetheless gave the opposition frighteners when in possession.
CF: Yoane Wissa – 7/10 – Gave Brentford their extremely early want with a quick-thinking header. Afternoon ended early after rolling his ankle.
Substitutes
SUB: Kevin Schade (45′ for Wissa) – 6/10 – Brentford failed to take advantage of the German’s tempo extra typically.
SUB: Mads Roerslev (72′ for Ajer) – 5/10
SUB: Fabio Carvalho (72′ for Janelt) – 5/10
SUB: Yehor Yarmolyuk (84′ for Damsgaard) – 6/10
Subs not used: Hakon Valdimarsson (GK), Ben Mee, Jayden Meghoma, Ryan Trevitt, Yunus Emre Konak
Supervisor
Thomas Frank – 6/10 – Brentford battled to the bitter finish however simply lacked the standard to maintain the early momentum.
