Heartbreaker Haaland returns off bench to send Man City top
The hosts got off to a typically positive start, with Kevin De Bruyne (31) forcing a save from a speculative driven effort, before Julián Álvarez (22) netted the game’s opener.
İlkay Gündoğan (32) carried the ball forward in midfield and slipped in Álvarez, who kept his cool to fire above Bernd Leno’s reach and off the underside of the crossbar.
Shortly after, John Stones (28) had the ball in the back of the net for what was shaping up to be a routine City victory, but an offside in the build-up proved pivotal as the game was turned on its head moments later.
Having narrowly survived going 2-0 down, Fulham’s Harry Wilson (25) found himself through on goal at the other end, but was denied a shot at goal by João Cancelo’s overzealous challenge.
Referee Darren England pointed to the spot and gave Cancelo his marching orders, before Andreas Pereira (26) - who was fortunate not to see red himself earlier in the half - stepped up to send Ederson (29) the wrong way.
The red card did little to alter the pattern of play, as City sought to retake their lead.
However, Pep Guardiola’s 14-game winning streak at the Etihad was under threat as the hour mark ticked by, so the Spaniard turned to his bench, bringing on Erling Haaland (22) and Phil Foden (22).
The former thought he had added to his league-leading goal tally, but VAR intervened to keep the scores level heading into the final 10 minutes.
Dramatically, with the game heading for a draw, City snatched it in stoppage time. Antonee Robinson (25) naively brought down De Bruyne in the box, allowing Haaland to squeeze his spot-kick past Leno and claim all three points for his side.
The points take the defending champions back above Arsenal in the PL table, while Fulham drop to a respectable eighth.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
