Manchester City let a two-goal advantage slip as Yoane Wissa and Christian Nørgaard scored late to secure Brentford a 2-2 draw in a pulsating Premier League clash on Tuesday.
City, who had recently rebounded from a poor November and December with a draw against Everton and victories over Leicester City and West Ham, saw their resurgence cut short by a dramatic late collapse.
The result leaves Pep Guardiola’s side sixth in the table with 35 points, 12 behind leaders Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw by second-placed Nottingham Forest.
Brentford’s spirited fightback moves them to 10th with 28 points.
City Dominates Early but Fails to Capitalize
Despite a lackluster first half, Manchester City came close to opening the scoring in the 50th minute when winger Savinho powered through the left flank and struck the post with a thunderous shot.
Just moments later, Erling Haaland squandered a golden opportunity, heading straight at Brentford’s goalkeeper when he should have found the net.
City finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne’s pinpoint cross that was expertly volleyed home by Phil Foden at the far post.
Foden doubled the lead 12 minutes later, pouncing on a rebound after Savinho’s initial effort was saved, silencing the home supporters.
Brentford’s Stunning Comeback
The game seemed all but over until Wissa reignited Brentford’s hopes in the 82nd minute, firing home from close range to make it 2-1. City’s defense, already stretched thin, was further tested as the home side applied relentless pressure.
Read Also: Liverpool Held To 1-1 Draw By Nottingham Forest As Arne Slot Praises Team’s Performance
Deep into injury time, Christian Nørgaard completed the dramatic turnaround with a powerful glancing header that narrowly evaded Stefan Ortega’s desperate save attempt, sending the Brentford fans into raptures.
Post-Match Reactions
A visibly frustrated Pep Guardiola expressed mixed emotions, alternating between praising and reprimanding his players.
Foden acknowledged the team’s fatigue in the closing stages, saying,
“We just looked tired in the last 20 minutes. They put longer balls into the box, and we didn’t deal with the physicality.”
Brentford’s hero, Nørgaard, celebrated his team’s resilience.
“We stayed in the game even though we were 2-0 down. I’m proud of the way we managed to come back,” he said.
“Even though I’m not a striker, I attacked the gap, and it was fantastic to see it go in.”
What’s Next?
With Liverpool maintaining their lead at the top and City struggling to find consistency, Guardiola’s men will need to regroup quickly if they hope to stay in the title race.
Meanwhile, Brentford’s impressive comeback will fuel their confidence as they continue to challenge higher up the table.
This unforgettable clash underscores the drama and unpredictability of the Premier League, where no lead is ever truly safe.
