Man City Surrender 18-Game Winning Streak, Survive Late Penalty Drama To Escape Defeat Against Crystal Palace (Photos & Video)

Alan Duffy

31st, December 2017

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Manchester City’s record-breaking 18-game Premier League winning streak came to an end at a rainy Selhurst Park on Sunday, with the Eagles almost pulling off an unlikely victory.

City saw Gabriel Jesus forced off by injury in the first-half, after an awkward landing.

The Brazilian was in tears as he left the pitch and is now expected to be out for up to two months courtesy of medial ligament damage.

While the visitors, as expected, had most of the possession, they struggled to break down a resolute and well organised Palace backline.

The Eagles did have a great chance to take a shock lead in the second-half, only for Andros Townsend to sky an effort when he should have done better.

Despite the lack of goals, the game still produced more than its fair share of drama late on, when Raheem Sterling was harshly adjudged to have fouled Wilfried Zaha in the box in injury-time with the Palace winger going down far, far too easily.

After Christian Benteke’s recent spot-kick mishap, Luka Milivojevic took over penalty duties once again.

However, the midfielder’s powerful but predictable effort was easily saved by Ederson.

Directly after that save, City broke forward, only for sub Jason Puncheon to clean Kevin De Bruyne out with the most agricultural of counter-attack-busting challenges.

That incident would see both players stretchered off, with Pep Guardiola no doubt concerned at the potential loss of his star-man (and Gabriel Jesus) as the season reaches the business end, both domestically and in the Champions League.

The game ended 0-0,  a scoreline which certainly didn’t reflect the drama on show, with the Citizens increasing their lead at the top to 14 points as they continue their march to the title.

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As for Palace, they can take pride in becoming the first top-flight side this season to stop City from scoring.

Although it could have been an even better day for the south Londoners had they been able to tuck their penalty away.

Posted in Crystal Palace, Man City, Videos

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