Man City 1-2 Brentford: Ivan Toney scores injury-time winner after England World Cup snub as champions stunned at the Etihad
Ivan Toney scores twice, including an injury-time winner, to give Brentford a surprising 2-1 victory at the Etihad; Phil Foden equalises for City before half-time with a spectacular half-volley; and Erling Haaland is disappointed on his return to the starting lineup.
The Brentford captain responded perfectly to missing out on Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England selection for Qatar, stunning the reigning champions and leaving Arsenal top of the league at Christmas.
After Toney had deservedly headed in the opener in the 16th minute, Foden struck a wonderful volley in first-half injury time to level for the hosts.
City’s chances of moving to the top of the Premier League were thwarted by a combination of poor finishing, wasteful passing, and tenacious Brentford defending before Toney capped a statement performance by sensationally tapping in a 97th-minute winner.
Brentford should have been up before Toney nodded in the winner. Ederson denied Frank Onyeka when he burst through in the fourth minute, and he then had to push away Toney’s shot from inside the area.
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But he couldn’t stop the goal, which came after Ben Mee headed in a free kick and Toney out-jumped Aymeric Laporte to tip it over the goalie.
When the VAR determined, the hosts were denied a penalty. Rico Henry had touched the ball just outside the area before another judgement was overturned after Kevin De Bruyne collided with the left-back.
Foden, on the other hand, provided some solace for City with a lovely half-volley in first-half injury time. The goal sparked a period of dominance at the start of the second half, but Ilkay Gundogan missed a clear chance and City struggled to integrate Erling Haaland, who returned from injury to start.
