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Erling Haaland is straight away the best striker in the Premier League
Photo:
Dave Thompson/AP
Manchester City have advanced in the English Premier League title race.
The English champions won 2-1 (1-1) against FC Fulham from London with a penalty kick from Erling Haaland in the last minute (90+5 minutes).
Julián Álvarez had previously given City the lead (17'), before left-back João Cancelo was sent off as the last man to be sent off for a foul (26') and Andreas Pereira used the penalty to equalize (28').
Due to the late success, ManCity is at least temporarily at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal have one point less, who will play Chelsea in the London city derby on Sunday and can overtake them again (1 p.m., TV: Sky).
The German Bernd Leno was in the goal of the promoted Fulham, who had to stretch in the third minute after a dangerous shot by Bernardo Silva.
Shortly thereafter, City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne tried it from around 20 meters.
Leno deflected the shot centimeters wide of the left angle (8th).
Central defender Nathan Aké got the next chance with a header that went a bit too high (12').
The superiority of the hosts was clear and after a pass from Ilkay Gündoğan, the 22-year-old Álvarez finally hit the crossbar from a tight angle (17').
It looked like a clear victory for Man City, in the 25th minute the ball was again in Fulham's goal.
Because of offside, the supposed 2-0 was taken back by John Stones.
Instead of extending their lead, City derailed the game in return: Fulham made it into the opposing penalty area for the first time, where Harry Wilson was cleared by Cancelo.
The foul cost twice: Cancelo saw red, and there was also a penalty, which Pereira safely converted (28th).
Haaland first cheers in vain, then rightly so
City were still more dominant when outnumbered, but it wasn't enough to score a goal.
Two ex-Dortmunders celebrated a joint combination, but in vain: Gündoğan served Haaland with a chip ball, but his header did not count because it was offside (75th).
Fulham came under heavy pressure in the closing stages.
Playing for a win even with ten men, City were given the opportunity to decide when De Bruyne deftly provoked a penalty by offering the ball but deflecting it at the last moment and trying to turn away.
He was hit on the standing leg by the approaching Antonee Robinson, accepted the foul - and was awarded the penalty he wanted.
Haaland used the penalty with a tight low shot into the left corner, which Leno could only reach with his fingertips (90+5).
For the 22-year-old Norwegian, it was the 23rd goal in 17 competitive games since moving to England.
He leads the Premier League goalscoring charts, eight goals behind Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane.
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