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Amazing Bees storm back from 2-0 down to nab deserved draw against the champions

Writer's picture: By Yann Tear at the Gtech Community StadiumBy Yann Tear at the Gtech Community Stadium


Picture by @YTJourno
Picture by @YTJourno

Brentford (0) 2 Wissa 82, Norgaard 90+2

Manchester City (0) 2 Foden 66, 78


It was another of those astonishing nights at the Gtech. Christian Norgaard's powerful header in injury time recued a point for the Bees from 2-0 down and on-one could say they didn't deserve it.


A helter-skelter contest with chances raining in at both ends from start to finish, it was a far cry from the dull control City used to exert on matches. They never had a stranglehold of this one, even at 2-0, and Brentford's ability to find late goals was there in spades once again.


In an amazing finale, Bryan Mbeumo almost won it too - Nathan Ake heading off the line as the game retained its breathless nature to the very end.


With eight minutes to go, it looked for all the world as though Phil Foden had repeated last season's match-winning feats here, when he bagged a hat-trick in a 3-1 win.

Tonight, he scored twice in 12 minutes and appeared to have settled the outcome.


But this Bees team never gives up and kept believing something could be salvaged from such an unpromising position.


First Yoane Wissa gave them hope on 82 minutes. Then came the late leveller.


There was plenty of encouragement to be had in the opening sparring as City's attempts to monopolise the ball and assert themselves with slow, controlled play seemed less significant than the more incisive-looking Bees attacks.


Wissa came within a whisker of reaching an Mbeumo chip in from the right and Stefan Ortega had to be careful with a low shot from Mbeumo that almost crept inside his near post. Mikkel Damsgaard ushered Wissa through into the inside right channel and the striker's low shot flashed wide.


Keane Lewis-Potter got in behind the defence as Damsgaard created more trouble but his low cross was too tame. Then the Dane smashed a half-volley into a thicket of players.


It was all unrelenting. Erling Haaland almost headed in a Kevin de Bruyune cross with a far-post header and Savinho blasted over in a counter-attack, but there was no doubting who was looking the more dangerous.


After the break and Nathan Collins almost headed in a free-kick from Mathias Jensen that City had needlessly conceded near the byline but City did finally look more of a threat with pace as Savinho charged from half way before unleashing a shot against Mark Flekken's left hand post and Haaland headed a Matheus Nunes cross straight at the keeper.


Vitaly Janelt stung the palms of Ortega with a raking low shot from distance as the pace picked up and an end-to-end contest continued to unfold. Savinho hit the side netting. Wissa's lightning raid was only thwarted by a fine tackle from Josko Gvardiol.


It was a game threatening to go in any direction. As it was, the champions found the net first, when Foden guided in a de Bruyne cross with a finely angled volley.


Wissa had a shot cleared off the line by Nathan Ake as the action refused to subside - Mbeumo having set up the chance on the edge of the six-yard box. Thomas Frank sank to his knees in disbelief.


Soon after, player of the match Savinho outfoxed Mads Roerslev and raced on to fire at Flekken - the ball bouncing off the keeper into Foden's path for a simple finish.


All over? Far from it. When Roerslev volleyed across the box, Wissa was unmarked and had time to sort out his feet before prodding into the roof of the net to set up that grandstand finish.


It was his 37th Premier League goal for the Bees, surpassing Ivan Toney's tally.


Flekken kept the Bees in it by denying Savinho and then in a stirring finale, Lewis-Potter's cross from the right was met by Norgaard and Ortega could not quite keep it out.


It was a heart-stopping night, with a memorable final flourish.


Bees: (4-3-3) Flekken - Roerslev (Henry 88), Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter - Norgaard, Jensen (Schade 67), Janelt - Mbeumo, Wissa, Damsgaard


Citizens: (3-2-4-1) Ortega - Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol - Kovacic (Gundogan 76), Nunes - Foden (McAtee 88), De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Savinho - Haaland

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