0
0
Manchester City delivered a crushing 6-0 victory over Ipswich at Portman Road, catapulting them into the top four of the Premier League. The win– a show of City’s dominance, with Phil Foden scoring twice in the first half to set the tone for the rout.
The match began with City enjoying ponderous possession, while Ipswich waited to steal the ball and launch a counter-attack. This approach almost paid off, as Jack Clarke broke free and fed Liam Delap, but the former City striker saw his shot smothered by Josko Gvardiol.
However, City’s escalating pressure eventually told, and they broke the deadlock on 25 minutes. Jeremy Doku found Kevin De Bruyne in the half-space, and the Belgian’s deflected pass perfectly teed up Foden to stroke home first-time.
City were flowing as freely as they have at any point this season, and they scored a second goal just 180 seconds later. Doku and Foden combined on the edge of the box to make space for Mateo Kovacic, who unleashed a powerful drive past Chris Walton.
Foden then added his second of the match, scoring in almost identical fashion to his first goal, to give City a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.
The second half saw City continue their relentless pressure, with Doku scoring via a flick off Dara O’Shea just minutes after the restart. Erling Haaland then got in on the act, calmly finishing past Walton after being sprung by Doku following a woeful Ipswich pass in midfield.
James McAtee completed the rout with a looping header from Kovacic’s cross, just minutes after coming off the bench. The victory marked City’s biggest win of the league season and lift them into the top four.
Pep Guardiola’s side looked ominous as they chased down their title rivals, with Haaland, Foden, and Doku all on the scoresheet. The win was a welcome return to form for Manchester City, who had been struggling to find their rhythm in recent weeks.
Ipswich, on the other hand, were left reeling from the defeat, which exposed their defensive vulnerabilities. Despite creating some early chances, Ipswich were ultimately unable to cope with City’s attacking prowess.
The victory surely is a statement win for Manchester City, who prepared for their crucial Champions League tie against PSG in the best possible way. With their attacking options looking more potent than ever, City will be confident of carrying this form into their European tie.
