In an electrifying Premier League encounter, Manchester City edged out Fulham 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a crucial brace from midfielder Mateo Kovacic. The Croatian star, stepping in for the injured Rodri, delivered a standout performance that helped Pep Guardiola’s side recover from a shock early deficit and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Fulham, undeterred by City’s formidable record, stunned the home crowd by striking first. Andreas Pereira’s sharp volley in the 26th minute put the visitors ahead after some clever build-up play from Raul Jimenez. Fulham looked poised to extend their lead, with Adama Traore twice coming close to capitalizing on City’s defensive lapses, but Ederson’s quick reflexes kept the deficit from growing.
City, however, regrouped quickly, with Kovacic leveling the score in the 33rd minute. His powerful shot from the edge of the area, aided by a deflection off Joachim Anderson, gave Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno no chance. This goal shifted the momentum in City’s favor as they sought to assert their dominance.
The second half began with Kovacic once again taking center stage. Just two minutes after the restart, the former Chelsea player slotted home his second goal, finishing confidently from 18 yards out after a slick assist from Bernardo Silva. The brace not only restored City’s composure but also underlined Kovacic’s growing influence in the squad, filling Rodri’s absence with precision and leadership.
City’s young winger Jeremy Doku added a spectacular third goal in the 82nd minute, cutting inside from the left before launching a thunderous strike into the top corner. The Belgian’s individual brilliance appeared to seal the win for Guardiola’s side, who were aiming to end a brief two-match winless run in the league.
However, Fulham refused to go down without a fight. Rodrigo Muniz struck back late for the visitors, scoring in the 88th minute with a deflected shot to make it 3-2 and set up a nail-biting finish. Despite the tense final moments, City held firm to secure all three points and remain firmly in the race for the Premier League title.
With this victory, Manchester City sit just one point behind league leaders Liverpool, reinforcing their credentials for a potential fifth consecutive title. The win also extended their unbeaten run to 10 games across all competitions, underscoring their resilience even in the absence of key players like Rodri.
While Guardiola will no doubt be pleased with the result, City’s vulnerability in defense will be a point of concern, especially as they continue to navigate a challenging season without their defensive lynchpin. Nevertheless, the emergence of Kovacic as a reliable option in midfield offers a silver lining as City chase more silverware.
