Newcastle United 2, Manchester City 3
Super subs Kevin De Bruyne and Oscar Bobb ensured that Manchester City won a thrilling goal of the month contest at Newcastle United.
Embed from Getty ImagesKevin De Bruyne scored Manchester City’s 100th Premier League goal against Newcastle United – the first side they hit a century against in the competition – before setting up Bobb for an injury time winner as the Magpies were 16 minutes from a famous victory against the World Champions.
City had dominated the game despite an early departure for Ederson to a freak injury but only had Bernardo Silva’s back heeled goal to show for their dominance.
The Magpies almost made them pay with two quick fire goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon to put the home side into a shock lead which they held for almost 40 minutes before the Belgian came off the bench to first level the scores before setting up a thrilling winner – their sixth in a row – to leave them just 2 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
City boss Pep Guardiola made six changes to the side that beat Huddersfield Town 5-0 in the FA Cup on Sunday.
But although passed fit to play Kevin De Bruyne started on the bench while Manuel Akanji was ruled for for weeks after an injury sustained against the Terriers and Jack Grealish was still recovering from a bout of illness.
Ederson, Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Jeremy Doku returned to the starting line-up while Stefan Ortega, Akanji, Sergio Gomez, Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb, and Grealish stepped down.
City played a high risk attacking strategy against Newcastle with both full backs playing high and wide.
And Newcastle thought they were off to a flying start when Sean Longstaff poked the ball home after Kyle Walker collided with Ederson barely minutes after kick off but the assistant referee belatedly raised the offside flag against the chaotic Magpies attack.
Ederson needed extended treatment before resuming and Newcastle kept up the pressure on the Brazilian who could not continue – it was the second City injury caused by a tardy offside flag in three games after John Stones’ hamstring problem.
Stefan Ortega was quickly recalled from the bench and had to replace Ederson.
But City pressed on and Walker overlapped on the right before cutting the ball back to Bernardo Silva who reacted quickly to back heel flick the ball home after 26 minutes – a slickly taken goal.
Silva had another flick pushed against the crossbar by Martin Dubravka as the Magpies hung on under the City onslaught.
But despite being under the cosh the home side were level through Alexander Isak who beat Walker and fired home a curling effort in the 35th minute after getting on the end of a long ball from Bruno Guimares.
And City were stunned by a solo effort from Anthony Gordon two minutes later when he drove into the box, leaving Walker in his wake.
Isak had another effort blocked by Ortega as both sides went at each other.
Alvarez fired over the bar as City struggled to get the equaliser but Kevin De Bruyne came on for Silva after 69 minutes and arrowed in the goal that City had worked for five minutes later.
Dubravka saved from Rodri as City hunted for a late winner.
And with time running out another super-sub – Oscar Bobb, who only came on after 82 minutes for Doku – cropped up and got on the end of a superb lofted pass from deep in midfield by De Bruyne and the Norwegian youngster controlled the ball and took it round Dubravka before coolly tucking it away the injury time winner from 6 yards out.