Enzo Fernandez dealt a significant blow to Manchester City’s Premier League title ambitions with a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser, securing a 1-1 draw for managerless Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
Tijjani Reijnders had given City a well-deserved lead just before half-time, but injuries to central defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias in the second half proved costly. In a heart-stopping finale, Fernandez prodded in at the back post to snatch a point for Chelsea.
The draw was only enough for City to reclaim second place above Aston Villa on goal difference, leaving them six points adrift of leaders Arsenal. Chelsea, meanwhile, were under the temporary management of their under-21 coach, Calum McFarlane, following the departure of Enzo Maresca on Thursday. The Blues have now won just once in their last eight league matches, slipping to fifth in the table, but their spirited second-half performance keeps them within three points of the top four.
City welcomed Rodri back for his first start since early October, and the Spaniard quickly demonstrated why he was crowned the world’s best player prior to suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in September 2024. However, Pep Guardiola’s side was left frustrated after a wasteful display in a 0-0 draw against Sunderland on Thursday, and they again missed opportunities to extend their lead before the break.
After a slow start, City began to create chances, with Phil Foden firing just wide and Bernardo Silva curling a shot over the bar. Chelsea’s Filip Jorgensen, making his first Premier League start of the season due to Robert Sanchez’s injury, produced a brilliant save to deny Erling Haaland’s deflected effort. Haaland then thought he had scored when his curling shot hit the inside of the post.
City’s pressure finally paid off three minutes before half-time when Reijnders wriggled free in the box and fired a powerful shot past Jorgensen at his near post.
However, just after the restart, an ankle injury to Gvardiol left City vulnerable at the back, and Chelsea seized the opportunity to counter. Pedro Neto squandered a golden chance, shooting over from close range.
Chelsea targeted Gvardiol’s replacement, Abdukodir Khusanov, in their search for an equaliser, forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep out a close-range effort from Liam Delap.
As the match drew to a close, Donnarumma made a remarkable stop from Fernandez, but the Argentine reacted quickest to tap in the rebound, leaving numerous City players on their knees in disappointment as Arsenal moved closer to their first league title in 22 years.
Credit: AFP
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