Sheffield United vs Manchester City [1-2] | All Goals & Extended Highlights | Premier League 2023/24

Rodri sends Manchester City top with a late winner after Jayden Bogle’s equaliser; Erling Haaland had earlier missed a penalty before making amends with the opening goal.

Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United thanks to Rodri’s rocket late in the game.

Jayden Bogle had looked to have secured the Blades’ first point of the season with his 85th minute strike but Rodri’s left-footed effort won it for the defending champions in the 89th minute in a dramatic game at Bramall Lane in which Erling Haaland was centre stage.

Haaland had struck the post from the spot in the first half, one of three big chances missed by the Norwegian before he finally met Jack Grealish’s left-wing cross midway through the second half to put City in front. But the real drama was still to come.

With Pep Guardiola absent from Bramall Lane following back surgery, City appeared to have been sucker-punched by Bogle’s equaliser. It would have been a reward for the resilience of Paul Heckingbottom’s side who battled hard throughout without seeing much of the ball.

But City promptly went up the other end and won it. The manner of the defeat, a third in a row, was cruel on Sheffield United. They were applauded off. As were Manchester City by the away support. They go top, now the only team with a perfect record.

Juanma Lillo, deputising for Guardiola, saw City struggle to break down Sheffield United’s defensive shape as it proved difficult to penetrate the space in behind during the first half. Nathan Ake put the ball in the net but Rodri had been offside in the build-up.

The first big opening came when Haaland backed into his defender and shovelled the ball towards Julian Alvarez but Wes Foderingham saved brilliantly from close range. Soon after came the pivotal moment of the opening 45 minutes when City were awarded a penalty.

The ball inadvertently struck the arm of John Egan following Alvarez’s cut back and the defender knew what was coming. Everyone in the stadium thought they knew what came next too but Haaland’s spot-kick struck the post with Foderingham beaten.

It brought huge roars from the home support as belief grew that the Blades could pull off a shock against the champions. The second half brought more pressure – and another Haaland miss, the Norwegian shinning his effort wide after Kyle Walker fizzed in the cross.

On the hour came his third huge opportunity, played in on the angle with only Foderingham to beat. The Sheffield United goalkeeper was up to the challenge, producing another fine save, the problem for the home side was that they were getting deeper and deeper.

That played its part in the goal, Grealish being allowed to cross from inside the penalty box, his dinked centre finding the hulking figure of Haaland free at the back post. The relief among the City players and supporters was palpable. The Blades’ resistance broken.

And then, another twist. Kyle Walker’s curious decision to attempt a back-heel near the byline against his former club only presented the ball to his opponent. The attack rebuilt down the right and substitute Bogle’s shot beat the despairing dive of Ederson.

The mood was raucous at that point but City kept calm and found the winner. Recycling play after Haaland could not get enough on a diving header, Phil Foden tried to bring the ball down but only teed it up perfectly for Rodri to arrow the ball into the top corner.

Even in stoppage-time there was more drama as Anel Ahmedhodzic came close to turning in a second equaliser of the game at the far post. Perhaps that would have been a twist too far.

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