Man City defeats stubborn Palace 1-0 thanks to a Haaland penalty kick

Manchester City needed a second-half penalty from striker Erling Haaland to break Crystal Palace’s resistance and win 1-0 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

City now has 61 points after 27 games, two points behind leaders Arsenal, who play Fulham on Sunday, and 12 points ahead of third-placed Manchester United.

• Watch LaLiga, Bundesliga, and other games on ESPN+ (U.S.)

The visitors got off to a fast start, with midfielder Rodri sending a powerful third-minute volley straight at keeper Vicente Guaita and Jack Grealish pulling a shot just wide, but with the home side packing their defence, City found it difficult to break them down.

As his team dominated possession, Haaland smashed a shot from a very tight angle goalwards just before the half-hour mark, then blasted the rebound wide.

City had a great chance early in the second half when Jack Grealish was fouled on the edge of the box, but Guaita made a fantastic diving save to keep Phil Foden’s free kick out.

On the hour mark, City went even closer when substitute Julian Alvarez turned brilliantly on the edge of the box after receiving the ball from Bernardo Silva, but he blasted his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

With Palace occasionally stringing six defenders across the back and using their forwards to clog the middle, Haaland was constantly crowded out, and City had to constantly recycle the ball as they looked for space to play.

City finally broke through when captain Ilkay Gundogan was upended in the box after a clumsy late challenge by Michael Olise.

Undaunted by his lengthy periods without the ball, Haaland stepped up and smashed home the penalty kick low to the keeper’s left in the 78th minute for his 28th league goal of the season and 34th overall.

After Palace failed to register a shot on target for the third Premier League game in a row, an animated Haaland went to celebrate with the travelling fans after a frustrating evening finally paid off.

“It’s fine; we’ll just have to play in different ways. People have adapted to us as a team and our style of play because we have won four Premier League titles in the last five years “Haaland stated to Sky Sports.

“What should I do? I can’t change what they do; all we can do is try to do our best and perform “He went on to say.

Following an electrifying start to the season, the 22-year-old Norwegian has had to work harder to get on the end of opportunities as teams have done a better job of closing him down, but he is relishing the challenge.

“This is England, and this is what I’ve grown up watching. I’m having a great time being in it. It’s nice to be in the thick of things “He stated.