Manchester City’s faint title hopes suffered another damaging blow as Fernandinho’s 90th-minute own goal gave Crystal Palace a point in a remarkable finish at Etihad Stadium.
Two Sergio Aguero goals in the last 10 minutes had turned a thrilling game on its head – and looked set to earn City victory – after Cenk Tosun had given the Eagles a first-half lead.
But it was Palace who had the final word when Wilfried Zaha stole down the left and put in a low cross that Fernandinho reached before Connor Wickham, only to divert the ball into his own net.
The draw leaves champion City 13 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand and play Manchester United on Sunday (16:30 GMT).
For long stages, it appeared City would end up empty-handed, as they struggled to break down a brilliantly organised Palace side.
Kevin de Bruyne had fired a first-half free-kick against the underside of the bar with the score at 0-0 but, for all the home side’s possession, they found clear-cut chances hard to come by.
Palace, meanwhile, had hardly ventured forward until they scored and their determined defensive outlook was so entrenched, the City fans booed James McArthur for time-wasting as he walked over to take the corner that led to their first goal.
When the ball did come over, Gary Cahill rose highest at the back post and Tosun was unmarked to steer his knockdown into the corner.
That silenced an already subdued stadium, and there was more frustration to come for the home fans after the break.
They thought their side had been handed a lifeline when referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot for a Jairo Riedewald handball, but the video assistant referee overruled his decision when replays showed the ball came off the defender’s foot first as he blocked Joao Cancelo’s cross.
It took Aguero to lead the rescue mission, with his first goal – his 250th for the club – coming when he turned home a Gabriel Jesus cross before his second saw him expertly nod home a Benjamin Mendy delivery.
That should have settled the outcome but Zaha had other ideas, making the most of some space down the left and sending in a dangerous delivery that Fernandinho could only help home.
Manager Pep Guardiola was hoping to celebrate his 49th birthday with three points rather than by taking his City squad to a local cinema to watch La La Land, which he did when he turned 46.
But his jubilant reaction to Aguero’s second goal turned to despair after Palace punished his side for dreaming at the back in all too familiar fashion.
The hard work had been done – they had found a way to break down a resilient Eagles side that offered City few chances after the break.
There was no way through the middle of the pitch so, time after time, City fired balls into the box. They had 46 crosses from open play alone.
That tactic repeatedly ended in frustration until two deliveries, both from the left, found Aguero in space, and he made no mistake.
Guardiola celebrated City’s second goal wildly but he was soon back on the touchline to bark instructions at his players – unfortunately for him, they did not follow them.
A lapse in concentration saw Cancelo stray too far forward, allowing Zaha to make the most of the space behind him, with John Stones unable to catch him.
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Source – BBC
