Leeds United Vs Man City: Semenyo strike decides leeds united vs man city
Antoine Semenyo’s winner was the difference as Manchester City beat Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road on Saturday in the leeds united vs man city clash. City, without the injured Erling Haaland, moved to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Match summary and goal
January signing Antoine Semenyo scored the only goal in a tense 1-0 win at Elland Road. Semenyo’s winner silenced a raucous and rowdy crowd with a real poacher’s finish, reacting quickest to latch on to Rayan Ait-Nouri's cross and converting with aplomb.
Leeds United Vs Man City match
Manchester City were missing the injured Erling Haaland for the match. The result moved City to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. Semenyo’s arrival and his goal helped maintain pressure on the long-time leaders, with the Gunners set to host Chelsea on Sunday and Arsenal and City due to meet in April.
Semenyo's form and figures
Since signing from Bournemouth for £62. 5m, Semenyo has scored six goals in 11 appearances, making him the club's top scorer this year and easing the goalscoring burden on Haaland. The 26-year-old said: "It means everything. We just want to win with our games on our side and, whatever Arsenal do, we just have to wait and see. We just need to control what we can control, win our games, and we will see what happens. "
Since signing for City, Semenyo has scored four league goals and provided one assist, a goal contributions record which is bettered only by Chelsea pair Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, who have six apiece. Semenyo is taking the goalscoring burden off Haaland's shoulders - only his team-mate with 29 and Brentford's Igor Thiago have been involved in more Premier League goals than Semenyo's 18.
Haaland statistics and context
Manchester City have often been accused of being too reliant on Erling Haaland this season, and there are signs that could be changing. In late November Haaland had scored 58% of City's goals, taken 30% of their shots and had 57% of their expected goals (xG). He had scored 19 goals in all competitions.
Burnley's Maxime Esteve was noted as City's second highest scorer in the league thanks to his two own goals in the game at Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola reaction and quotes
Pep Guardiola strode on to the pitch after the match and blew kisses in the direction of his family in the stands. He said the kisses also contained a large dose of smugness towards the Leeds fans, who had been throwing insults towards him during the game.
