Brentford battle but second-half goals give City victory

Man City 3

Doku (60′)
Haaland (75′)
Marmoush (90’+2)

Brentford 0

Three second-half goals gave Manchester City victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.

Jeremy Doku put the hosts ahead, Erling Haaland got their second and Omar Marmoush added a late third.

The Bees remain in contention for a European place but the defeat leaves them eighth in the Premier League table with two matches remaining.

They defended well and managed to frustrate their title-chasing opponents before switching off at a corner on the hour mark.

They were ruthlessly punished, with Doku curling a fantastic strike into the far corner of the net.

Keeper Caoimhin Kelleher temporarily prevented a City second by saving with his legs to deny Phil Foden.

At the other end, Brentford seemed to have a good case for a penalty when Kevin Schade was nudged over by Matheus Nunes, but no spot-kick was awarded despite a VAR check.

City made the most of that let-off, with Haaland doubling their lead after Antoine Semenyo pulled the ball back from the right towards the Norwegian striker, who improvised after his first effort was blocked, cleverly back-heeling his second attempt into the net.

Kelleher produced a brilliant late save, somehow tipping Foden’s shot over the bar, but he was unable to deny Marmoush, who slotted past him in stoppage time after being set up by Haaland.

Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Hickey (Janelt 61); Jensen, Damsgaard (Ouattara 68), Yarmoliuk (Henderson 79); Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Schade.
Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Dasilva, Nelson, Furo.