Late Penalty Denial: Man City’s Title Race Hit as Points Dropped by Pep Guardiola’s Side
Manchester City’s hopes of clinching the Premier League title suffered a blow as they dropped two valuable points in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. The defending champions, who started the day in second place and two points behind leaders Liverpool, have now slipped to third in the table.
The match was not without controversy, as City were left frustrated after a penalty shout was waved away by VAR in injury time. Replays clearly showed Levi Colwill handling the ball, but the decision went against Pep Guardiola’s side. The incident resulted in City having to settle for a fourth draw of the season.
Raheem Sterling, facing his former team, opened the scoring for City with a superb finish into the bottom corner in the 42nd minute. However, he missed a golden opportunity to double the lead early in the second half when his close-range effort was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Ederson.
Despite dominating possession and creating chances, City struggled to find the winning goal. Erling Haaland missed a glaring chance as time ran out, and it looked like the game was slipping away from City.
However, in the 83rd minute, Rodri’s powerful shot took a deflection off Trevoh Chalobah and found its way into the back of the net, giving City the equalizer they desperately needed. But it was not enough to secure all three points.
The controversy came in added time when Levi Colwill handled the ball, leading to strong appeals for a penalty from City players. VAR reviewed the incident and deemed it accidental, much to City’s dismay. With no further chances created, Chelsea held on for a crucial point amidst the controversy.
The draw sees City fall four points behind leaders Liverpool in the title race. However, Guardiola’s team still has a game in hand, which they will play against Brentford on Tuesday. A victory in that match would close the gap to just one point and keep the pressure on the Reds.
The clash between City and Liverpool on March 10th at Anfield is shaping up to be a pivotal match in the title race. With both teams vying for the top spot, it promises to be an enticing battle that could determine the outcome of the Premier League this season.
In the meantime, City will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming fixtures, starting with the game against Brentford. Guardiola will be hoping for a strong response from his players as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of dropping points against Chelsea.
As the title race intensifies, City cannot afford any more slip-ups if they want to retain their crown. The pressure is mounting, and every point matters. Only time will tell if they can overcome this setback and reignite their pursuit of another Premier League title.