Manchester City secured a 1-1 draw against Chelsea thanks to Rodri’s late goal, following Raheem Sterling’s first-half opener. Sterling’s goal, just before halftime, surprised his former team in a fiercely contested match at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.
City, needing to respond to victories from title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal earlier in the day, fought back with determination, creating numerous chances before Rodri finally found the net after 83 minutes. His powerful strike was met with relief around the stadium, presumably even by his teammate Erling Haaland after a previous miss.
The match didn’t lack drama, as there was a stoppage-time penalty check for handball against Levi Colwill, but no penalty was given.
Although City managed to salvage a draw, the result ended their 11-game winning streak in all competitions, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side third in the table, four points off the top.
Despite heavy rain, City started brightly with Julian Alvarez posing threats twice, but Chelsea also looked dangerous. Haaland missed a chance early in the game, and Sterling missed an opportunity after beating Manuel Akanji. Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher created openings, but City’s Nathan Ake denied them with well-timed challenges.
The match remained tight until just before halftime when Palmer released Jackson with a simple pass, and he found Sterling in front of goal. Sterling skillfully maneuvered past Kyle Walker and confidently curled the ball past Ederson.
City intensified their efforts in the second half, with Kevin De Bruyne and Haaland having attempts at goal. Chelsea’s Gusto provided Sterling with a chance to double their lead, but Ederson made a crucial save.
City’s pressure eventually paid off when Rodri equalized seven minutes from time after a deflected shot rebounded into his path. Despite several missed opportunities from both sides, the match ended in a hard-fought draw.