Man City Throw Away 3-Goal Lead in Astonishing Collapse Against Feyenoord
Erling Haaland looked set to lead Manchester City to a comfortable victory with his record-breaking form, but Pep Guardiola‘s men suffered an incredible meltdown, drawing 3-3 against Feyenoord.
Despite halting their losing streak, Pep Guardiola faces mounting questions as his side imploded in just 14 chaotic minutes. Leading 3-0 and seemingly cruising to victory, City gifted Feyenoord a way back with defensive errors that will haunt them ahead of their weekend clash against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Defensive Disaster
City’s collapse was punctuated by a series of self-inflicted mistakes. From 3-0 up, three goals in 14 minutes saw them plummet from fifth to 15th in the Champions League group table. Guardiola himself seemed to mirror his team’s struggles, appearing post-match with a cut on his nose. He jokingly explained, “I did it with my own fingernail. I wanted to harm myself.”
However, it was City’s defense that truly inflicted the harm, with lapses from Josko Gvardiol and others undoing a commanding lead.
The Match Unfolded
City opened the scoring just before halftime when Haaland converted a penalty after a questionable foul call. Ilkay Gundogan doubled the lead five minutes into the second half with a deflected volley, and moments later, Haaland scored again, finishing a cross from Matheus Nunes.
At 3-0, City looked untouchable. But then, calamity struck:
- Josko Gvardiol’s errant back-pass gifted Anis Hadj Moussa a goal in the 74th minute.
- Seven minutes later, substitute Santiago Gimenez capitalized on defensive disarray to pull Feyenoord within one.
- The final blow came in the 89th minute, as Paixao outpaced Ederson to set up David Hancko, who headed into an open net.
Feyenoord’s determination was commendable, as coach Brian Priske praised his side for refusing to surrender.
The Road Ahead
City now face an uphill battle to secure Champions League qualification. With only three group-stage matches remaining—away to Juventus and PSG before hosting Bruges—they may need a full nine points to avoid a dreaded playoff.
Next up is a high-stakes clash against Liverpool at Anfield. Guardiola admitted his team must regroup swiftly, as a repeat of their defensive lapses will surely be punished.
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