Manchester City beat Ipswich Town 3-2 at the Etihad on Saturday, with Phil Foden and an Erling Haaland brace scoring before a late Ipswich penalty set up a tense finish, for a seventh straight Premier League win under Enzo Maresca.
MANCHESTER, Oct 17 — Manchester City held off a late Ipswich penalty to win 3-2 and stay top of the Premier League with a perfect record after seven matches.
Foden and Haaland put City in control
Foden opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a first-time finish after a Jérémy Doku cut-back. Ipswich equalised two minutes later, in the 21st minute, when Daizen Maeda raced onto a ball in behind and finished low. Haaland restored City’s lead in the 34th minute, heading in from a Mateo Kovačić pass. He made it 3-1 in the 69th minute with a left-footed finish after a pass from Iliman Ndiaye.
Disallowed goal and late penalty
Abdoul Ouattara of Ipswich was booked in the 73rd minute. Haaland thought he had scored a third in the 85th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Ipswich then scored from the spot in the 90th minute, when Zian Flemming converted a penalty awarded after Marc Guéhi fouled Abdul Fatawu, setting up a tense finish before City held on.
Maresca’s record
Maresca became the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games in charge of a new club. Foden was named man of the match, and Maresca said he was happy with the team’s improvement. City host AEK Athens in the Champions League at the Etihad on Tuesday, Oct 20. City lost 4-2 to PSG in their last Champions League match, as we reported.
Result: Manchester City 3-2 Ipswich Town (Premier League, Etihad). City: Foden 19′, Haaland 34′, 69′. Ipswich: Maeda 21′, Flemming 90′ (penalty).
