AFP , Saturday 5 Nov 2022
Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League as the champions recovered from Joao Cancelo’s dismissal to clinch a last-gasp 2-1 win against Fulham, while Leeds staged a stirring fightback to beat Bournemouth 4-3 on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s side led through Julian Alvarez’s first half goal at the Etihad Stadium.
Fulham equalised before the interval when Andreas Pereira converted a penalty awarded for Cancelo’s foul on Harry Wilson, with the City left-back sent off much to Guardiola’s visible disgust.
But Haaland was the hero yet again after missing City’s last two matches due to illness and a foot problem.
On as a substitute, Haaland scored a stoppage-time penalty to notch his 23rd goal in 16 competitive City appearances since his close-season move from Borussia Dortmund.
City’s seventh successive home league win lifted them one point above previous leaders Arsenal, who can go back to the top of the table with a win at London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.
Alvarez opened the scoring after 17 minutes, racing onto a fine through ball from Ilkay Gundogan and firing in a powerful shot off the underside of the crossbar.
But 11 minutes later Cancelo barged Wilson off the ball as the Fulham winger broke though on goal.
Darren England brandished a red card and Fulham midfielder Pereira, formerly of City’s arch rivals Manchester United, sent Ederson the wrong way with his spot-kick.
However, Haaland came on with half an hour left and turned the tide in City’s favour.
Antonee Robinson’s foul on Kevin De Bruyne in the 90th minute conceded a penalty that Norway striker Haaland fired past Bernd Leno.
Crysencio Summerville starred for Leeds as they came back from 3-1 down at Elland Road.
Summerville was Leeds’ match-winner in last week’s shock victory at Liverpool and he followed it up with another crucial strike that clinched successive wins for Jesse Marsch’s side.
Bournemouth led 2-1 at the break after James Tavernier and Philip Billing had cancelled out Rodrigo’s early penalty.
Dominic Solanke put the Cherries further ahead early in the second half.
But Sam Greenwood curled home Leeds’ second and Liam Cooper headed them level before Summerville slammed home the winner with six minutes remaining.
Brighton rock Wolves
Brighton beat Wolves 3-2 at Molineux just hours after the struggling hosts appointed Julen Lopetegui as their new manager.
Former Real Madrid boss Lopetegui, hired to replace the sacked Bruno Lage, will take charge on November 14, when the Premier League pauses for the World Cup.
Interim boss Steve Davis remained in charge against the Seagulls and couldn’t stop second bottom Wolves crashing to a fourth defeat in six games.
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