Burnley hold City after Raheem flop
Burnley, Feb. 3: An extraordinary miss by Raheem Sterling proved the turning point as Burnley recovered to snatch a draw against runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City 1-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s team, leading from Danilo’s first half goal, looked well in control but Sterling’s huge error 20 minutes from time offered a lifeline and renewed belief to the home side.
After 82 minutes, Matt Lowton’s deep cross from the right allowed Johann Berg Gudmundsson to ghost past the City backline and score with a left-foot volley from six yards.
It is just the fourth time City have dropped points in the Premier League this season, but they still enjoy a commanding 16-point lead over Manchester United, who host Huddersfield later.
Burnley showed great character and organisation in their defending from the start but, when they made an error, City punished it clinically.
A quickly-taken 22nd minute Kevin De Bruyne corner found Bernardo Silva who, in turn, moved the ball on to Danilo, who had been left in far too much space outside the Burnley area.
The full-back carried the ball to the edge of the area before curling an unstoppable 20-yard, right-foot shot into the far corner.
The lead was just about merited for a City side that came to Turf Moor without seven injured first team players and with Guardiola naming just six substitutes.
SMALL BENCH The City manager claimed he had not wanted to deny youngsters playing in a Friday night elite development squad fixture in order just to sit on the first-team bench.
But Guardiola’s decision was also interpreted as a gesture in response to his recent complaints that his players are not receiving enough protection from referees, leading to a long injury list at the Etihad, as well as City’s failure to land Riyad Mahrez from Leicester before Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
City still had enough talent on display and, after taking the lead, Sterling cut into the box and shot firmly into Pope’s body before the England forward worked a one-two with Ilkay Gundogan that almost opened up another chance. — AFP