MANCHESTER: Midfielder Phil Foden delivered in dramatic fashion, scoring in the first and 91st minutes, to seal Manchester City’s 3-2 victory over Leeds United on Saturday in a breathless finish that kept Pep Guardiola’s side in the Premier League title race.
The game appeared to be heading for a draw after second-half goals by Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, but Foden made some space for himself in the box before firing home.
The victory left City provisionally second on 25 points, four behind leaders Arsenal who play on Sunday. Leeds are 18th with 11 points.
Matheus Nunes worked the ball down the wing and crossed to Foden, whose first-time shot glanced off the underside of the bar and went in 59 seconds into the game.
City continued to dominate and Josko Gvardiol doubled their lead in the 25th when he poked home a point-blank shot from a corner.
But Calvert-Lewin pounced on City’s casual clearance attempt to pull one back in the 50th minute, and the goal breathed life into the visitors.
Nmecha struck from the penalty spot in the 68th minute, awarded for Gvardiol’s tackle of Calvert-Lewin in the box.
Foden’s late goal came amid a flurry of chances for City at the death.
Foden’s double secures Manchester City’s thrilling win over Leeds
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Foden’s double secures Manchester City’s thrilling win over Leeds
- The victory left City provisionally second on 25 points
- City continued to dominate and Josko Gvardiol doubled their lead
Messi dazzles as Miami beat Vancouver to win MLS title
- Argentina superstar Messi provided assists for two goals and helped create another to spark wild celebrations before a rapturous home crowd at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale
FORT LAUDERDALE, United States: Lionel Messi inspired Inter Miami to their first ever MLS Cup title on Saturday, playing a leading role in a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in Florida.
Argentina superstar Messi provided assists for two goals and helped create another to spark wild celebrations before a rapturous home crowd at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Miami took the lead after an early Edier Ocampo own goal but were left reeling by Ali Ahmed’s second half-equalizer for Vancouver.
But Messi then laid on an assist for Argentina international team-mate Rodrigo De Paul to put Miami 2-1 up before supplying the pass for Tadeo Allende’s injury time goal that sealed victory.
Miami’s first Major League Soccer crown provided glittering vindication for co-owner David Beckham, the former England and Manchester United star who had long dreamed of bringing success to Miami.
“There was a lot of sleepless nights, but I always believed,” Beckham said afterwards. “I always believed in bringing the team here, and when I found the right partners I knew anything was possible.
“We always promised our fans that we would bring success, and bring the best players, and today we’ve achieved that.”
Vancouver — spearheaded by German legend Thomas Mueller — had looked the likelier victor after recovering from Ocampo’s eighth minute own goal to level through Ali Ahmed in the 60th minute.
The Whitecaps almost took the lead moments after the equalizer, with Emmanuel Sabbi’s shot crashing off both posts in the 62nd minute as Miami escaped.
But with the Whitecaps in complete control, the Canadians were stunned when Miami regained the lead after a blunder by midfielder Andres Cubas.
Cubas took too long in possession and was robbed by Messi, who skipped clear before releasing De Paul to provide the clinical finish.
Vancouver never recovered from that hammer blow and Miami started the party in injury time when Messi played in Allende for the third to make it 3-1.
The win marks the crowning achievement of Inter Miami since the club — which entered the league as an expansion club in 2020 — successfully lured Messi to Miami in 2023.
Saturday’s victory also marked the end of an era for two key figures in Miami’s rise to the top of Major League Soccer, with former Spanish internationals Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets heading into retirement.
