Axel Disasi roars after Thiago Silva’s equalizer / Reuters=Yonhap News
The ‘big guns’ of the English Premier League (EPL), Manchester City (Man City) and Chelsea engaged in a thrilling match, each scoring four goals.
Chelsea drew with Man City 4-4 in a home game of the 12th round of the 2023-2024 EPL season, held at Stamford Bridge in London, UK, on the 13th (Korean time).
It was a ‘super close game’ with four equalizing goals.
Man City scored first in the 25th minute with a penalty kick goal by ‘monster striker’ Erling Haaland.
Chelsea responded with an equalizer just four minutes later.
Thiago Silva headed a corner kick from Conor Gallagher from the right, shaking the Man City net.
At 39 years old, Silva became the oldest goal scorer in Chelsea history with this goal.
Chelsea turned the tables with Reece James’s ground cross, followed by Raheem Sterling’s goal.
League leader Man City did not sit idle.
In the 46th minute of the first half, Manuel Akanji’s header made it 2-2, and then two minutes into the second half, Haaland’s goal led to a 3-2 comeback.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland / Reuters=Yonhap News
The nerve-wracking match continued in the second half.
Chelsea striker Nikola Jackson made it 3-3 with a shot after the goalkeeper blocked a teammate’s long-range shot.
Man City seemed to have decided the game with Rodri’s lightning-fast left-foot long-range shot in the 41st minute of the second half.
However, Chelsea, who earned a penalty kick in extra time, eventually returned the game to square one.
Man City defender Dias committed a clear foul while trying to block Chelsea’s Armando Broja, who had a shooting opportunity inside the penalty area.
In the 50th minute of the second half, Chelsea’s kicker Cole Palmer successfully made the penalty kick, making it 4-4, and the game ended as such.
After a heated match, players from both teams embraced each other regardless of team affiliation and encouraged each other.
According to the UK’s BBC, this is the fifth time in EPL history that a game has seen four equalizing goals and the first time since 2009.
Coaches Pochettino and Guardiola / Reuters=Yonhap News
Chelsea, who had languished in the mid-table due to endless poor performances, would be more satisfied with the draw.
League leader (with 28 points) Man City saw their winning streak end at three games, and the gap with second place (27 points) Liverpool narrowed to just one point.
However, both team commanders praised the EPL and their opponents equally for the thrilling match.
Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s coach, said, “This match showed that the EPL is the most unbelievably great league that everyone wants to play in,” adding, “Man City is the best team in the world. Chelsea bravely fought to earn three points.”
Pep Guardiola, Man City’s coach, said, “This was a game that could be called a great advertisement for the EPL,” adding, “Chelsea has a fantastic team and players.”
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