In a breathtaking Premier League encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Phil Foden emerged as the hero for Manchester City with two crucial goals, including a dramatic 91st-minute winner that secured a vital 3-2 victory over Leeds United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Breathless Finish Keeps City in Title Hunt
The match seemed destined for a draw after Leeds United staged an impressive second-half comeback, but Foden had other ideas. The English midfielder found space in the penalty area during added time and fired home the decisive goal, sending the home supporters into raptures and keeping Pep Guardiola's side firmly in the Premier League title race.
City started with clear intent, determined to bounce back after suffering two consecutive losses across all competitions, including a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League just days earlier on Tuesday.
Early Dominance and Leeds' Resilient Response
The home team wasted no time asserting their authority, with Foden opening the scoring in spectacular fashion before the game was even a minute old. Matheus Nunes worked the ball down the wing and delivered a perfect cross to Foden, whose first-time shot glanced off the underside of the crossbar and beat goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
City continued to dominate proceedings, and their persistence paid off in the 25th minute when Josko Gvardiol doubled their advantage. The Croatian defender poked home from point-blank range after Nico O'Reilly's header from a corner fell perfectly at his feet. Despite a lengthy VAR check for offside, the goal was rightfully allowed to stand.
The second half saw a remarkable shift in momentum as Leeds United, inspired by manager Daniel Farke's tactical changes, mounted an impressive comeback. The visitors capitalized on City's lackadaisical approach after the break, with Ao Tanaka pouncing on a casual clearance to set up substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who pulled one back in the 50th minute.
Dramatic Equalizer and Foden's Heroics
Leeds continued to press and were rewarded with an equalizer in the 68th minute. The visitors were awarded a penalty after Gvardiol brought down Calvert-Lewin in the box. Although Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Lukas Nmecha's initial spot-kick, the German forward reacted quickest to fire the rebound into the empty net.
As the game entered added time, it was Foden who once again proved the difference-maker. The England international found a pocket of space in the Leeds penalty area and unleashed a clinical finish to secure all three points for the defending champions amid a flurry of late chances.
"I was so hungry today to play and prove to myself I could still score goals," an elated Foden said after the match. "I missed a few chances against Newcastle and wanted to put it right. The belief and togetherness came through at the end."
League Implications and Manager Reactions
The crucial victory leaves Manchester City second in the Premier League table with 25 points from 13 games, just four behind leaders Arsenal, who face third-placed Chelsea (23 points) in a London derby on Sunday. Meanwhile, Leeds United remain in the relegation zone, occupying 18th position with 11 points.
Pep Guardiola was full of praise for his match-winner, telling beIN Sports: "All season he (Foden) has been so brilliant. I remember some players that I train at Barcelona, he arrives in the penalty spot, shooting from outside... He's the closest one I've ever seen."
Leeds manager Daniel Farke, while disappointed with the result, expressed pride in his team's performance: "We played today one of the best sides, not just in the UK, one of the best sides in the world and definitely the best manager in the world. Fantastic second half, we fully deserved to equalise. Man City is a side full of superstars, and then one minute of magic from Phil Foden... heartbreak and unlucky for my players."
The victory answered important questions about City's attacking options beyond Erling Haaland, with players like O'Reilly, Tijjani Reijnders, and Omar Marmoush all creating opportunities as the champions registered 18 shots compared to Leeds' nine throughout the match.
