Riyad Mahrez put Manchester City ahead from the penalty spot in the first half before Kevin de Bruyne doubled the lead in the 69th minute to secure all three points.
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Manchester City defeated Brentford 2-0 in the Premier League fixture at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to go 12 points clear at the top of the standings. The visitors defended excellently for large periods but shot themselves in the foot for both City goals. Firstly, Mads Roerslev gave away a needless penalty for a clumsy foul on Raheem Sterling from which Riyad Mahrez scored. Then, David Maya handed ball possession to Sterling in the 69th minute and although the Englisman’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper, Kevin de Bruyne slotted home from the loose ball.
FULL-TIME | 2️⃣ goals, 3️⃣ points and a clean sheet!
? 2-0 ? #ManCity pic.twitter.com/kk1RCfKmoX
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 9, 2022
Phil Foden headed an early chance wide from De Bruyne’s cross. At the other end, Mathias Jensen’s shot from the left side of the penalty area went just over the crossbar. City left-back Joao Cancelo, who was full of creativity all night, charged in to meet a loose ball just before the half-hour mark, but blasted over the bar.
Sterling then volleyed over from Foden’s ball and Aymeric Laporte’s effort from inside the box went wide. City finally broke the deadlock in the 40th minute as Sterling was brought down inside the box by Roerslev. It was the 23rd time in the Premier League Sterling has won a spot kick for his side, the most of any player in the competition’s history. Mahrez stepped up and converted the spot kick.
After the break, Cancelo’s effort from outside the box went just over the bar. The full back was having an excellent game as he went past two defenders before entering the box and testing the goalkeeper with a right-footed shot.
Brentford handed City the second, and match sealing goal in the 69th minute. Raya lost the ball to Sterling, although he recovered to make the save from the England forward’s initial attempt, De Bruyne pounced on the rebound to double City’s lead.
It was Brentford’s fifth successive loss and they are now just six points above the relegation zone.
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