Phil Foden Bails Out Wobbly City As Leeds Launch Shock Comeback

Manchester City’s Phil Foden (right) in action (AFP)

Manchester City flirted with full-blown crisis mode before Phil Foden saved them at the death in a chaotic 3-2 win over struggling Leeds at the Etihad.

What should’ve been a routine afternoon turned into a nervy escape act for Pep Guardiola’s title chasers.

City Cruise… Then Completely Implode

Foden smashed City ahead inside 59 seconds, finishing off Matheus Nunes’ piercing run. Josko Gvardiol’s tap-in from Nico O’Reilly’s header made it 2–0, and Leeds looked cooked.

VAR waved away claims that Bernardo Silva blocked keeper Lucas Perri, and City seemed on their way to a stress-free afternoon.

Leeds Smell Panic, City Provide It

But this is 2024–25 Manchester City — chaos is part of the script.

A shocking Nunes error gifted substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin the first Leeds goal early in the second half, and the Etihad’s anxiety levels spiked.

Josko Gvardiol then clattered Calvert-Lewin in the box; Donnarumma saved Lukas Nmecha’s penalty, but the forward tucked away the rebound to stun the champions.

Suddenly, City were on the brink of dropping points for the third straight game, after defeats to Newcastle and Leverkusen — and after Guardiola’s public blast that his rotated side “didn’t try” in midweek.

Foden to the Rescue

With Erling Haaland unusually muted in his hunt for Premier League goal No. 100, Foden stepped up again.

In stoppage time, the 24-year-old created half a yard and buried a cold-blooded finish to drag City into second place, four points behind Arsenal.

Leeds, meanwhile, slumped to a sixth defeat in seven, piling more pressure on Daniel Farke.

Elsewhere: Thiago on Fire, Sunderland’s Miracle Turnaround

Brentford 3-1 Burnley: Igor Thiago hit a brace — now 11 league goals– as Brentford punished relegation-threatened Burnley, who briefly levelled through Zian Flemming’s penalty. Ouattara sealed it with a late rocket.

Sunderland 3-2 Bournemouth

From 0-2 down to 3-2 up, Sunderland produced the comeback of the day. Le Fee’s penalty started the revival, Traoré levelled, and Brian Brobbey’s header completed the turnaround to lift the Black Cats into fourth.

Later: Newcastle visit Everton; Spurs host Fulham.

(with AFP inputs)