City forced to come from behind for draw
MANCHESTER City battled back from two goals down and missed a late penalty to keep the title race alive after a rip-roaring 2-2 draw at West Ham.
Jarrod Bowen’s first-half double threatened to hand the initiative to second-placed Liverpool, who would have surely relished the challenge of drawing level on points and gnawing away at the goal difference at Southampton on Tuesday night.
But Jack Grealish pulled one back after the break and an own goal by Vladimir Coufal hauled City level to at least keep their title destiny in their hands.
Pep Guardiola’s side were then awarded a spot-kick which, had they scored it, would have left them needing just a point against Aston Villa next weekend to retain the Premier League crown.
But Lukasz Fabianski saved Riyad Mahrez’s effort to ensure the race at the top will go to the wire.
It was a dramatic end to a crazy match, which began in party mode before kick-off as West Ham bid an emotional farewell to club captain Mark Noble.
The carnival atmosphere was cranked up even further in the 24th minute when Bowen beat the City offside trap as he raced onto Pablo Fornals’ ball.
The England hopeful won his foot race with Aymeric Laporte but still had plenty to do, keeping his nerve to round City keeper Ederson and finish superbly.
City were hit by another sucker punch before half-time, Bowen sent scampering away again by Tomas Soucek and burying a low finish past Ederson.
City needed a quick response, and they got it when West Ham failed to clear their lines shortly after half-time.
Rodri flicked the high loose ball to Grealish whose shot bounced into the ground, off the thigh of Dawson and high into the net.
City drew level when Mahrez swung in a free-kick which the diving Coufal headed into his own net.
Mahrez had the chance to win it with six minutes remaining after Dawson brought down Jesus, but the Algerian’s spot-kick was well saved by Fabianski.