EPL: Foden Scores Last-Gasp Winner as Man City Edge Leeds 3–2 in Thriller
Phil Foden delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Manchester City survived a second-half scare to defeat struggling Leeds United 3–2 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, keeping their Premier League title hopes alive.
City looked to be cruising after a dominant first-half display, with goals from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol putting Pep Guardiola’s men firmly in control. But the champions suffered a shock collapse after the break as Leeds sitting third from bottom hit back through Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, stunning the home crowd and threatening to derail City’s title chase.
With pressure mounting and time running out, Foden stepped up again, firing home a decisive late effort to seal all three points and spare City from further embarrassment after a difficult week.
The victory lifts Manchester City into second place, four points behind league leaders Arsenal. The Gunners face a tough test away to third-placed Chelsea on Sunday, a match that could reshape the title race.
Saturday’s win was especially crucial for Guardiola’s side, coming on the back of consecutive defeats first against Newcastle in the league and then against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Guardiola had heavily rotated his squad for the 2–0 loss to Leverkusen, making 10 changes in a move that backfired spectacularly. Furious with his team’s lack of intensity, the manager openly criticised his players, saying they “didn’t try,” prompting widespread scrutiny.
In response, key stars such as Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Foden returned to the starting lineup against Leeds.
Despite sitting in the relegation zone, Leeds showed remarkable resilience. Calvert-Lewin’s strike and Nmecha’s well-taken goal levelled the match in the second half, raising hopes of a stunning upset. But the late collapse leaves them with nothing to show for a spirited performance.
Manchester City now turn their attention to maintaining momentum as they continue their chase to close the gap at the top.
