2023-12-16 17:45:45
Before the trip to the Football Club World Cup, Manchester City has once once more lost ground in the fight to defend its title in the English Premier League. Coach Josep Guardiola’s team were already 2-0 ahead once morest Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw due to a last-minute penalty. The game between Bournemouth and Luton was abandoned in the 65th minute because a player collapsed on the field.
Luton’s captain Tom Lockyer went down without any external influence and medical help was quickly on the scene. After minutes of treatment, the 29-year-old was carried off the pitch on a stretcher to applause from the audience. Both teams had already disappeared into the catacombs and then decided not to continue the game. There was a slight all-clear followingwards; according to Sky information, Lockyer was said to have been responsive.
It wasn’t the first collapse for Lockyer. Something similar happened to him in the play-off final in the fight for promotion to the upper house on May 27th at Wembley Stadium once morest Coventry City. During five days in the hospital he underwent heart surgery and was then given the green light to continue his career. He was part of the game once more in preparation for the new season.
For ManCity, following goals from Jack Grealish (24th) and Rico Lewis (54th), everything pointed to their third competitive win in a row before the home team made a self-defeat. Jean-Philippe Mateta shortened the score (76′) and won a penalty in stoppage time. Phil Foden hit him when he tried to kick the ball away, an absolutely unfortunate move. Michael Olise (95th) converted confidently. This meant that the champions drew for the fourth time and in the third home game en suite.
The defending champions (34 points) remained fourth in the table and might therefore lose some ground to Liverpool (37/vs. Manchester United), Arsenal (36/vs. Brighton & Hove Albion) and Aston Villa (35/vs. Brentford) on Sunday. In addition, the dress rehearsal before the start of the Club World Cup failed. In Saudi Arabia, the “Citizens” will face the Urawa Reds from Japan in the semi-finals in Jeddah on Tuesday. The final and the game for third place follow on Friday.
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