Hero Raheem creates more last-gasp pandemonium STERRING LATE FINISH BY CITY
MANCHESTER CITY restored their eight-point lead with a dramatic late strike from serial matchwinner Raheem Sterling.
His goal, six minutes into stoppage-time, extended City’s winning run to 19 games in all competitions and sparked scenes of pandemonium. After sweeping the ball into the net, Sterling ran the length of the pitch, pursued by his team-mates and the rest of the squad, while Pep Guardiola and his staff went berserk, celebrating on the pitch. Not since Sergio Aguero snatched the title from Manchester United on goal difference with his dramatic added-time strike on the final day of the 2011-12 season has the Etihad Stadium witnessed such late drama. Guardiola’s celebrations earned him a talking-to from ref Paul Tierney, while the Catalan exchanged verbals with Southampton’s Nathan Redmond at the final whistle.
City went into the game boasting the best top-flight points haul after 13 games since Liverpool in the 1990-91 campaign.
Fernandinho produced the first chance after 12 minutes, a speculative shot from 20 yards that had Fraser Forster diving full-stretch to his right, but went just wide of the target.
Within a minute, Saints went close themselves, Maya Yoshida flicking on a corner for Wesley Hoedt, whose header thudded against the bar and away for City to break on the counter-attack.
Sterling scampered down the left before cutting inside and unleashing a dipping shot which was blocked by Forster, who repeated the feat after Gabriel Jesus seized on the rebound.
City went close again through Fernandinho in the 19th minute, Forster needing to be alert again to keep out his effort, while Aguero headed over after Kevin De Bruyne picked up the loose ball.
The home side continued with another slick move ending with further heroics from Forster, who saved from Jesus, with Ilkay Gundogan finding the side-netting with the follow-up.
Saints were not without their own chances, Mario Lemina beating City skipper Vincent Kompany and testing Ederson at his near post, the skipper scooping the ball behind for a corner.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s side went close again from the resulting corner, Virgil van Dijk (left) knocking the ball down for Yoshida, who was unable to keep his volley under the bar.
Kompany, making a third successive Premier League start after returning from his latest injury lay-off, struggled at times and was booked for a block on Shane Long.
City opened the scoring two minutes after the restart from De Bruyne’s menacing setpiece delivery.
Guardiola’s half-time teamtalk clearly had the desired effect, with Jesus almost making it 2-0 moments later.
Jesus won the ball off Yoshida just before the hour and exchanged passes with Aguero, but Forster was out early to foil the young striker.
Saints drew level with 15 minutes left, Fabian Delph committing himself, allowing substitute Sofiane Boufal to bring the ball down before cutting it back for Oriol Romeu to sweep into the roof of the net.
But Sterling waited until the dying seconds to deliver his hammer blow.