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Manchester City secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Fulham, with Mateo Kovacic stepping up to lead his team in the absence of the injured Rodri. despite going behind early, City turned the game around with Kovacic’s brace and a late goal from Jérémy Doku to claim all three points.
Fulham’s early shock
The match started with a surprise as Fulham, playing away at the Etihad, took the lead just after 25 minutes. Andreas Pereira, the former PSV midfielder, capitalized on a stunning assist from Raúl Jiménez, threading the ball through City's defense to put Fulham ahead. This early strike stunned Pep Guardiola’s side, who were still adjusting to life without their midfield anchor, Rodri.
Kovacic steps up
With Rodri sidelined due to a severe injury, Pep Guardiola turned to Mateo Kovacic, and the Croatian midfielder didn’t disappoint. Kovacic quickly seized his opportunity, becoming the star of the match as he spearheaded City's comeback. His first goal came just before halftime, as he pounced on a rebound from a corner to level the score at 1-1. Kovacic continued his impressive performance after the break. Shortly into the second half, Fulham’s Sander Berge mishandled the ball, allowing Kovacic to slot home his second goal of the game and give City a 2-1 lead. The Croatian’s two goals in just 15 minutes proved crucial in turning the match around for City.
Doku and Muniz add late drama
As the game progressed, City continued to press for a decisive third goal. In the closing stages, Jérémy Doku provided the extra security City needed, firing a powerful shot past Fulham’s goalkeeper to extend the lead to 3-1. However, Fulham refused to give up easily. Ricardo Muniz scored late for the visitors, making it 3-2 and creating a tense finale. Despite the late scare, City held on to secure a valuable win, keeping them in contention at the top of the Premier League standings.
Looking ahead
This victory showed Manchester City’s resilience in the face of adversity, particularly with the absence of Rodri. Mateo Kovacic’s standout performance will provide Pep Guardiola with some comfort as they continue to navigate through a challenging part of the season. Fulham, meanwhile, will take positives from their brave performance but will be disappointed to come away with nothing from a match in which they pushed the champions to the brink. City’s next challenge will see them face stiffer competition as they aim to continue their strong run in the Premier League.
