Report

Palace launch late fightback from two down to stun Man City

16 Dec 2023
Olise, Palace

Late goals from Mateta and Olise deny City the chance to go second before departing for FIFA Club World Cup

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Michael Olise's stoppage-time penalty completed a remarkable late comeback as Crystal Palace grabbed a 2-2 draw at Manchester City, leaving the champions with only one win in six matches.

Goals from Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis had given City a deserved 2-0 lead after 75 minutes, but Jean-Philippe Mateta and Olise struck to leave Pep Guardiola's side frustrated before they head to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup.

City, who were again without the injured Erling Haaland, stay fourth, three points behind Liverpool ahead of the Reds' home match against Manchester United on Sunday.

Premier League

Position Pos Club Played Pl GD Points Pts
1 Man City MCI 38 +62 91
2 Arsenal ARS 38 +62 89
3 Liverpool LIV 38 +45 82
4 Aston Villa AVL 38 +15 68
View More
How the match unfolded

Guardiola made nine changes from the side that beat Crvena zvezda 3-2 on Wednesday night in the UEFA Champions League, with only Lewis and Grealish retaining their starting spots.

As for Palace, they made five changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Liverpool, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson making his first Premier League start for the club.

City went close to opening the scoring after five minutes, with Julian Alvarez's header tipped wide by Henderson.

Ruben Dias then flashed an effort from distance over the crossbar before Rodri’s shot was blocked by Marc Guehi.

City took a deserved lead on 24 minutes, Grealish slotting into the bottom corner after being played in by Phil Foden to score in three consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time.

Grealish, Man City

Josko Gvardiol was then denied by Henderson before Palace’s best chance of the half came to the recalled Olise, who flashed a free-kick narrowly wide just before half-time.

Incredibly, all 10 of City’s outfield players created a chance in the opening 45 minutes, the first time this has happened in the competition since records began in 2006/07.

City’s domination continued in the second half, and they deservedly doubled their lead on 54 minutes through Lewis.

Foden’s pass inside the penalty area fell to Lewis, who drilled into the bottom-left corner from eight yards for his first Premier League goal.

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City looked fully in control, but Palace suddenly reduced the deficit with 14 minutes remaining. Jeffrey Schlupp latched on to a long pass down the left and drove into the penalty area before squaring for Mateta to tap in for his second goal in as many matches.

And in the third minute of stoppage time, Palace were awarded a penalty for a foul by Foden on Mateta. Olise sent Ederson the wrong way to level and earn Palace an unlikely point.

Palace sit 15th with 17 points. 

Olise goal
Key facts

-Crystal Palace are the first team to trail by 2+ goals away to Manchester City in the Premier League and avoid defeat since Manchester United won 3-2 in April 2018; Manchester City had won 68 consecutive home league matches from such a position.
-All 10 of Manchester City's outfield players created at least one chance in the first half against Crystal Palace. It’s the first time on record (2006-07 onwards) that 10 different players created a chance for one team in the first half of a Premier League game.
-Manchester City have kept one clean sheet across their last 11 games in the Premier League, while they have conceded at least once in seven consecutive league games for the first time since January 2019 (8).
-Having also scored against Liverpool last week, Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored in consecutive Premier League games for the first time.

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