Quickfire goals by Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva helped Manchester City recover from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Newcastle United in a pulsating Premier League clash at St James’ Park.
Neither side had conceded a goal in the league this season but Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring for champions City in the fifth minute on Sunday, ghosting in to catch the Newcastle defence flat-footed.
City should have gone two up in the 16th minute when Phil Foden attacked down the right, but he chose to shoot from a tight angle rather than squaring the ball to Haaland.
The home side levelled through Miguel Almiron in the 28th minute as he bundled a pinpoint cross from Allan Saint-Maximin into the net before enduring a nervous VAR check that allowed the goal to stand.
Saint-Maximin tormented City full back Kyle Walker and he put Newcastle in position to pull off a huge upset when he set up Callum Wilson to make it 2-1 before halftime.
A brilliant free kick by Kieran Trippier nine minutes after the break put Newcastle 3-1 ahead and on course for a shock victory.
That sparked City into life, however, with Haaland hitting a post before pulling a goal back on the hour. Then Silva converted a glorious pass from Kevin De Bruyne to make it 3-3.
Newcastle’s challenge looked set to come unstuck when Trippier was shown a straight red card for a cynical high trip on De Bruyne, but after a VAR review the decision by Australian referee Jarred Gillett was overturned and he was given a yellow.
City dominated possession in the final stages but had to settle for a draw that left them second in the table on seven points, two behind leaders Arsenal. Newcastle are sixth on five points.
“We scored the third goal in the 64th minute, it was very early. I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t score the fourth, but still, a good reaction from the team,” Silva told the BBC.
Trippier was disappointed his side only came away with a point.
“We want to go toe to toe with them and I thought we did that throughout the match, but Man City are a top side and they have the quality of the players to get themselves back into the game,” he told Sky Sports.
Leeds United produced a relentless display to earn a 3-0 Premier League victory over Chelsea as they continue to impress under American coach Jesse Marsch.
At a raucous Elland Road, two goals in five first-half minutes on Sunday put Leeds in charge and Chelsea, who finished with 10 men, were unable to cope with their intensity.
The opener came after a monumental error from Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who made a mess of collecting a back pass from Thiago Silva.
He was dispossessed by American Brenden Aaronson, who was free to walk the ball home for his first Premier League goal.
New Leeds captain Rodrigo headed in his fourth of the season to make it 2-0.
There was no letting up from Leeds, who put the game to bed with a 69th-minute third through Jack Harrison. Chelsea’s close-season signing Kalidou Koulibaly was sent off late on for a second yellow card.
“It was the best performance since I have been here,” Marsch said. “You are starting to see a bunch of players who understand their role, some in the form of their lives.
It was a second victory from three at the start of the new campaign for Leeds, while Chelsea’s first loss leaves them down in 12th place.
“We scored an own goal and conceded from a set piece,” Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel said. “The defeat is nothing to do with pressing, nothing to do with running less kilometres and nothing to do with the style of Leeds.
“We were able to be the better team. But then it was 2-0 and our body language was not like it was in the last match. I don’t see the connection that we lost to the style of Leeds. We knew it was coming.”
Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion maintained their impressive start to season with a 2-0 victory at West Ham.
Alexis Mac Allister’s 22nd-minute penalty, following a foul by debutant German international defender Thilo Kehrer on Danny Welbeck, put Brighton ahead.
Graham Potter’s well-drilled side sealed a thoroughly deserved three points in the 66th minute when Leandro Trossard raced through to score after a slick move.
West Ham did not manage a shot on target in the first half but tried to respond late on with Tomas Soucek forcing a couple of fine saves from Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez.
The result leaves West Ham, who are still without a point or a goal, bottom of the table after three games and they were booed off at the final whistle.
Like Leeds, Brighton have seven points from three matches.
© AAP
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