Mateo Kovacic scored twice as Manchester City held off a spirited Fulham side to claim a 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, keeping pace with Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The Croatian midfielder’s goals on either side of halftime turned the tide for City after Andreas Pereira had given Fulham a surprise lead. Jeremy Doku added a third for the hosts before Rodrigo Muniz set up a tense finish with a late strike for the visitors.
“Mateo was exceptional today,” said Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. “His goals were crucial, but it was his overall performance that really stood out.”
City dominated possession early but struggled to break down a resilient Fulham defense. The visitors took the lead against the run of play when Pereira capitalized on a well-worked move involving Raul Jimenez and Alex Iwobi.
Kovacic equalized before halftime with a deflected effort from outside the box. He then put City ahead early in the second half with a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Doku, who came on as a substitute, seemed to have sealed the win for City with a powerful strike in the 84th minute. However, Muniz’s goal four minutes later ensured a nervy finish for the champions.
Fulham manager Marco Silva praised his team’s performance, saying, “We showed great character and gave the champions a real fight. On another day, we might have taken something from this game.”
The victory keeps Manchester City within a point of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table heading into the international break. Fulham, despite the loss, showed they can compete with the league’s elite teams.
