Football
2018/2019 English Premier League
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ESPN 5y

Manchester City back on top after routine victory over Cardiff

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League as goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane gave them a comfortable 2-0 home win over struggling Cardiff.

De Bruyne lashed past visiting goalkeeper Neil Etheridge from a narrow angle early on, with Leroy Sane doubling the advantage before the break.

Only a succession of saves from Etheridge prevented City from scoring a hatful in a night that saw them make their first chance just seconds in when Gabriel Jesus was a fraction away from meeting De Bruyne's cross.

Etheridge was then forced into a good save when a Riyad Mahrez shot took a deflection but after six minutes the home side had the lead, De Bruyne found by Aymeric Laporte and hammering the ball high into the net.

Two minutes later they almost had another when Joe Bennett was booked for tripping Danilo on the edge of the area and Sane's free kick was held by Etheridge.

Jesus shot over the bar following uncertainty in the Cardiff defence before City were forced into an early change, Oleksandr Zinchenko limping off with a hamstring problem and being replaced by Kyle Walker.

De Bruyne was soon creating problems for Cardiff again, cutting the ball back for Jesus to steer narrowly wide, and then Phil Foden fired too high for an utterly dominant home side.

Fernandinho was the next City player to try his luck but also sent his effort too high before Lee Peltier was booked for bringing down Foden and Sane fired over.

Jesus saw an attempt deflected wide from De Bruyne's pass after City had broken from a Cardiff corner, but the home side got their second when Sane belted in a low shot from the edge of the area.

Foden, making his first Premier League start, had a shot well stopped by Etheridge before De Bruyne fizzed wide as City searched for a third in the early stages of the second half.

Etheridge then made a fine one-handed save from Laporte's header and touched a Mahrez effort over the bar before making yet another stop to deny Sane his second of the night.

As the final 20 minutes approached, Foden hooked against the post from a corner and the same player's swerving drive was superbly tipped away moments later.

Oumar Niasse fired straight at Ederson with Cardiff's first shot on target, but the home side were soon on the attack again and Jesus flicked wide from a De Bruyne cross.

Cardiff should have pulled a goal back late on but Niasse was denied by the alert Ederson after racing into the area when the visitors broke at pace from deep in the City half.

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