Phil Foden was the hero of the night as he scored a brilliant hat-trick to inspire Manchester City to a 3-1 comeback win over Brentford on Monday. The young midfielder showed his class and creativity as he led the charge for the defending champions, who closed the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table to just two points.
Brentford Stuns City with Early Goal
The hosts, who were playing their first ever top-flight game against City, stunned the visitors with a goal against the run of play in the 21st minute. A long goal kick from Mark Flekken was flicked on by Ivan Toney to Neal Maupay, who raced past the City defence and slotted the ball past Ederson.
City had dominated the possession and chances until then, with Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, and Kyle Walker all testing Flekken in the Brentford goal. However, the Bees defended bravely and looked to hit City on the break with their pace and movement.
Foden Sparks City’s Comeback with Equalizer
City needed a response before the break, and they got it from their star man Foden. In the third minute of added time, the 23-year-old received a pass from Kevin De Bruyne on the left edge of the box, cut inside, and curled a stunning shot into the top corner, leaving Flekken rooted to the spot.
It was a moment of magic from Foden, who has been in sensational form this season, scoring 15 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions. His goal gave City a much-needed boost and changed the momentum of the game.
Foden Completes His Hat-Trick with Two More Goals
City came out in the second half with renewed confidence and intensity, and it did not take long for them to take the lead. In the 53rd minute, Foden scored his second goal of the night with a powerful header from a De Bruyne corner, beating Flekken at the near post.
Foden was not done yet, as he completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute with a clinical finish. He latched onto a through ball from Bernardo Silva, sprinted past the Brentford defence, and calmly slotted the ball past Flekken for his third goal of the night.
It was a superb display from Foden, who became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League this season, and the second youngest player to do so for City, after Mario Balotelli in 2011. He also equalled his best tally of 13 goals in a single Premier League campaign, with 16 games still to play.
City Moves Up to Second Place with Ninth Straight Win
The final whistle confirmed City’s ninth consecutive win in all competitions, and their fourth in a row in the Premier League. They moved up to second place in the table, with 49 points from 22 games, just two points behind Liverpool, who have played one game more.
City have also scored 51 goals in the league, the most by any team, and have the best goal difference of +27. They have shown remarkable resilience and character to recover from losing positions in their last four away games in the league, winning each of them.
Brentford, on the other hand, suffered their third defeat in four games, and remained in 15th place, with 22 points from 21 games. They have impressed in their first season in the Premier League, but have struggled to find consistency and results against the top teams.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
City will look to continue their winning run and challenge for the title when they host Wolves on Saturday, February 10. Brentford will hope to bounce back and climb up the table when they visit Fulham on the same day.
