Man City denied title by famous United comeback

Monday, 9 April 2018 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Manchester United’s Paul Pogba scores their first goal - REUTERS

London (Reuters): Manchester City must wait to annex the Premier League title after an amazing Paul Pogba-inspired fightback from two goals down saw their biggest rivals Manchester United earn a famous 3-2 win to ruin the Etihad Stadium’s dream party on Saturday (7 April).

City, needing to win to wrap up the English top-flight title with more games to spare than any other side in history, seemed to be coasting to the landmark, leading their neighbours 2-0 at the break with goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan.

Yet just when it seemed United were being outplayed to the point of embarrassment, they launched an astonishing comeback soon after the break with Pogba, previously anonymous despite a new flashy blue hair-do, striking twice in two minutes.

Then, with City losing their composure, Chris Smalling was left free to volley home the winner from Alexis Sanchez’s freekick in the 69th minute to seal a memorable win.

Now instead of a morale-boosting celebration, Pep Guardiola’s side have been forced to wait to clinch their third title in seven seasons and cannot be guaranteed the title even if they win at Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday (14 April).

Their lead over United has been cut to 13 points with Jose Mourinho’s team in pole to earn the runners-up spot as they have 71 points from 32 games, four points clear of Liverpool (67 from 33), who earlier drew 0-0 at Everton, and Spurs (67 from 32), who won 2-1 at Stoke City. If City beat the in-form Spurs at Wembley, they will still not be able to celebrate the title unless United fail to beat bottom club West Bromwich Albion the following day.

City, who suffered their first home league defeat for 16 months, were left to look back on the most deflating of evenings.

City’s defeat completed their wretched week after the 3-0 mauling by Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday (4 April) and they now face a European exit in the return fixture on Tuesday night (10 April).