Fight 'til the end: Late goals a trademark of City's season

Men's Team

Colin the King

Indeed, the two greatest moments in the Club’s history has seen us snatch victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to our unwavering fighting spirit.

DOWNLOAD THE MAN CITY APP

In the 1999 Division Two Playoff final, we never gave up and, 13 years later on 13 May 2012, we fought until the very end against Queens Park Rangers to clinch our first league championship for 44 years.

It’s been a similar story under Pep Guardiola. In 2018-19 we pipped Liverpool to the Premier League title by a point on the final day of the season, whilst the previous campaign’s triumph saw us net memorable late winners against the likes of Southampton and Bournemouth en route to a 100 point tally.

And, as Rodrigo proved against Arsenal, the trend of late goals is something which has continued in 2021-22.

At the time of writing, no Premier League team has scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of games than City.

Guardiola’s men have hit the back of the net on 10 occasions from the 76^th minute onwards, which is the joint highest in the league alongside Liverpool and Chelsea.

In three of those games, the late strikes have proved decisive in determining the result.

Men's Team

What’s on CITY+ in January?

At Anfield in October, Kevin De Bruyne’s 81^st minute curling effort rescued a point for City, whilst the following month Fernandinho’s stoppage time strike against West Ham United proved vital, ensuring Manuel Lanzini’s late goal was nothing more than a consolation.

Neither of those occasions can match the drama of Rodrigo’s 93^rd minute winner at Arsenal, as City once again displayed the desire and determination which has underpinned our success under Guardiola to take all three points from a keenly fought contest.

Without each of those goals, City’s lead at the top of the table would be reduced to five points, with Liverpool, who have a game in hand, able to cut that deficit even further.

Instead, we boast a 10-point advantage over second place Chelsea and, whilst Guardiola and his players will be well aware there is a long way to go, it is impossible to ignore the significance of our late goals.

They’ve won games, rescued points, added gloss to heavy score lines to boost our goal difference and, ultimately, enhanced City’s reputation as a side that fights until the end.

CITY’S LATE LEAGUE GOALS