Phil Foden’s last minute goal proved decisive on Saturday as Manchester City overcame a nervous second half to defeat Leeds 3–2 at the Etihad.
Foden set the tone early, striking inside 59 seconds, the fastest Premier League goal of the season, before defender Josko Gvardiol added a second midway through the first half. City appeared to be cruising, but Leeds turned the match on its head after the break.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin halved the deficit, and former City academy striker Lukas Nmecha stunned the home crowd by equalising, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side briefly staring at a third straight game without victory. Erling Haaland, who “hasn’t scored in any of those games”, again went without a goal, increasing pressure on the Norwegian’s form.
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City’s breakthrough finally arrived in the first minute of added time when Foden curled a precise finish beyond the Leeds goalkeeper to seal all three points and lift City to second place. The win reduces the gap to league leaders Arsenal, who play Chelsea on Sunday, to four points.
The result offered much-needed relief for City after league and Champions League defeats in the past week, with Foden’s late strike preventing what would have been a damaging setback in their title defence.