Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
by James Nalton

AN INJURY-TIME penalty from Michael Olise gave Crystal Palace a hard-earned point against Manchester City on Saturday.

It was a moment for Phil Foden to forget. He lost the ball in midfield before fouling Jean-Philippe Mateta to give away the penalty that allowed Palace to equalise.

Olise cooly dispatched the spot-kick, sending City goalkeeper Ederson the wrong way.

Pep Guardiola’s side scored in each half to take a two-goal lead.

Jack Grealish latched onto a neat Foden pass for the first, and Rico Lewis was alive in the area after a Grealish pass deflected off Rodri into his path.

Even when Palace pulled a goal back through Mateta it felt like City would see the game out, but a lack of discipline gave Palace a chance. 

“The team was really good but at the end, when you give away a penalty you don’t deserve it,” Man City manager Guardiola said after the game.

“We are not consistent enough to close the games, for many reasons.”

City now travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in the Fifa Club World Cup, beginning with a semi-final match against Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan on Tuesday.

They do so as their latest Premier League title defence has hit the rocks, and will return to England in time for Christmas with some catching up to do.