Wolverhampton: Manchester City’s faint hopes of retaining the Premier League title were left in tatters as they blew a two-goal lead and had Ederson sent in a dramatic 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Friday.
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Pep Guardiola’s side recovered from Ederson’s 12th minute dismissal to take control thanks to Raheem Sterling’s double either side of half-time.
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But City’s fatigued stars were unable to go the distance as Adama Traore’s goal started a thrilling Wolves fightback.
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Raul Jimenez equalised with eight minutes to go and Matt Doherty hit the winner to send Molineux wild in the 89th minute.
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Third-placed City trail runaway leaders Liverpool by 14 points and, Jurgen Klopp’s red-hot team have a game in hand, making it hard to imagine the champions getting their hands on the trophy for a third successive season.
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Wolves, flying high in fifth place, have contributed to City’s downfall more than most and, after winning 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium in October, they celebrated a top-flight double over the Manchester club for the first time since 1960-61.
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The only blemish for Wolves were the missiles thrown from the stands when City celebrated their second goal, an incident that prompted the Football Association to launch an investigation.
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Referee Martin Atkinson was seen passing a metal hip flask to the fourth official as an announcement over the tannoy warned “numerous instances of objects being thrown have been seen. CCTV will be used to prosecute offenders”.
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It was a bitter night for Guardiola, whose team have lost five league games this season after being beaten just four times in the whole of last term.
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City had looked closer to their best in recent wins over Arsenal and Leicester, but they could not have made a worse start at Molineux.
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When Diogo Jota escaped with a well-timed run behind the City defence, Ederson rashly raced out of his area.
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The Brazilian misjudged the bounce of the ball and clipped Jota, earning a red card. Guardiola then replaced Sergio Aguero with reserve keeper Claudio Bravo.
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City responded by snatching the lead in controversial fashion in the 25th minute.
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Riyad Mahrez made an incisive run that ended with Leander Dendoncker stepping on the Algerian’s foot, leading VAR to award a penalty.
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That was not the end of the drama as Sterling’s low spot-kick was saved by Rui Patricio, only for VAR to intervene again as the penalty was retaken for encroachment.
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Guardiola appeared to signal for a change of penalty taker, but Sterling stepped up and shot to the same side of Patricio’s goal with his second kick.
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Again the Wolves keeper kept it out, but this time Sterling followed up to tap in the rebound.
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When Sterling doubled the lead in the 50th minute, City looked in charge.
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Rodri picked out Kevin De Bruyne and he played a perfectly-weighted pass behind the Wolves defence to Sterling.
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Beating the offside trap with ease, Sterling ran clear on goal and clipped a deft finish over Patricio for his 19th club goal of the season.
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But Sterling’s eventful night wasn’t finished yet and, when he surrendered possession careless in midfield five minutes later, Wolves took advantage to reduce the deficit.
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Traore’s blistering pace makes him a tough opponent, so City backed off just enough to allow the wing-back to blast a low drive past Bravo from 20 yards.
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