Erling Haaland and Phil Foden help Manchester City to comeback win over Chelsea
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden help Manchester City to comeback win over Chelsea
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Erling Haaland and Phil Foden spared the blushes of new team-mate Abdukodir Khusanov as Manchester City came from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1. Khusanov, the £33.6million Uzbekistan defender signed from Lens this week, made a nightmare start in the Premier League with an error that led to a Chelsea goal and a booking inside the opening four minutes.
Noni Madueke took full advantage of the mistake to put the visitors ahead at the Etihad Stadium but Josko Gvardiol equalised and the tried-and-trusted figures of Haaland and Foden settled the contest in the second half. The win lifted City back above Chelsea into the top four and raised spirits after their midweek capitulation at Paris St Germain.
City manager Pep Guardiola decided to plunge Khusanov in at the deep end just days after completing his signing as injuries continued to deprive him of regulars. Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias were both absent, with John Stones only deemed fit enough for the bench.
It was a big ask of the 20-year-old, who was playing for unheralded Energetik-BGU in Belarus when City won the treble in 2023. His nerves in front of a packed crowd – which included FIFA president Gianni Infantino – were soon apparent, although only after fellow debutant Omar Marmoush almost made the perfect start to his City career.
The £59million Egypt forward latched on to a pass from Matheus Nunes and, despite a heavy touch, cracked a shot at Robert Sanchez but the keeper pushed away. Play quickly switched to the other end where Khusanov suffered the embarrassment of missing a bouncing ball and then completely fluffing an attempted back-header to Ederson.
