Patience and perseverance were required, but Manchester City came away from Bramall Lane with all three points on Sunday, as Erling Haaland and Rodri fired the three-time defending Premier League champions to a 2-1 victory.
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Sunday’s game was played without Pep Guardiola in the dugout for Man City, with the 52-year-old recovering from minor back surgery back in Barcelona. Recently returned assistant manager Juanma Lillo took charge against Sheffield United, and will do so against Fulham next weekend as well.
Manchester City looked set to take the lead not long before halftime after John Egan was whistled for a handball in the box, but Haaland smashed the ensuing penalty kick off the front side of the post and watched helplessly as the ball pinged back into the field of play.
Haaland continued to cause problems with runs in behind the Sheffield United defense, as he strayed offside once or twice while trying to toe the line and find the decisive opening. In the end, it was a floated cross from Jack Grealish which undid the Blades and found Haaland rising highest at the back post.
Everything was looking incredibly comfortable for Manchester City, with Sheffield United attempting just three shots in the game up until the 85th minute. That’s when Jayden Bogle equalized after former Blade Kyle Walker cheaply gave the ball away inside his own penalty area. It was the first goal Manchester City conceded this season.
Parity wasn’t long for this world, though, as Man City feverishly chased a winner from the restart. Three minutes later, Phil Foden found Rodri with a cut-back ball and the Spaniard rifled the ball far post, top corner, where no goalkeeper in the world could reach it.
What’s next?
Manchester City will host Fulham next Saturday (10 am ET) in the final game before the September international break, not long after Sheffield United face Everton back at Bramall Lane (7:30 am ET).
Sheffield United vs Manchester City, live score: 1-2
Goalscorers: Erling Haaland (63'), Jayden Bogle (85'), Rodri (88')
How to watch Sheffield United vs Manchester City live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 9 am ET, Sunday (August 27)
TV: USA Network
Online: Watch online via NBCSports.com
From our friends at FotMob.com…
MANCHESTER CITY ANSWER RIGHT BACK! 👀#SHUMCI ON @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/KytqRrcb80
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 27, 2023
HAALAND. MANCHESTER CITY!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 27, 2023
📺: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/EqFwI4E03Q
Haaland off the post on the penalty! #SHUMCI stays scoreless. 👀
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 27, 2023
📺: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/1nkuQL59xf
Here's how United line up to face @ManCity at the Lane! 👊@premierleague | #SUFC 🔴 pic.twitter.com/DfbxABXeKP
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) August 27, 2023
Today's XI to face Sheffield United! 🙌
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 27, 2023
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, Bernardo, Grealish, Alvarez, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Doku, Gomez, Foden, Bobb, Palmer, Lewis, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/pxIi99wFYr
Sheffield United injuries
OUT: Rhian Brewster (thigh), John Fleck (leg), Ismaila Coulibaly (knee), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Oliver McBurnie (ankle), Jayden Bogle (knee), Daniel Jebbison (groin), George Baldock (calf), Max Lowe (ankle)
Manchester City injuries
OUT: Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring - out until December/January), John Stones (thigh)
