The Algerian player Riyadh Mahrez scored the only goal of the match last night to give victory to his club, Manchester Cityfacing the London club Chelsea F.C.in the meeting of the 17th day of the English Premier League.
Mahrez, however, started the match on the substitutes’ bench. Incorporated at the 60′ minute by Pep Guardiola in place of Phil Foden, it only took 5 minutes to the captain of the Algerian team to be decisive.
After a collective sequence of around twenty passes, Jack Grealish, who entered the game at the same time as Mahrez, served the Algerian striker perfectly in the Blues’ penalty area, and he easily slipped the ball into the back of the net to open the score.
From back to front! ?
? 0–1 ? #ManCity pic.twitter.com/GVdwstzsfw
—Manchester City (@ManCity) January 5, 2023
With this providential goal, Riyad Mahrez continues the performance and confirms its return to form in this post-World Cup period. The Algerian star had already scored a superb goal against Liverpool FC during a Carabao Cup match last December.
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In terms of personal statistics, Mahrez scored his 2nd goal of the season here in 12 games, the 6th in all competitions. But even more sensational! With this new achievement, No. 26 of the Skyblues breaks a record. Thus, since joining Manchester City in 2018, the EN captain is the player who has scored the most goals (9 in total) in the English league starting the match as a substitute.
9 — Since he joined Man City in 2018, Riyad Mahrez has scored more Premier League goals as a substitute than any other player (9). He scored his goal, assisted by Jack Grealish, just 3 minutes and 43 seconds after both players had been subbed on. Impact. pic.twitter.com/RL80MCKI8W
—OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 5, 2023
Mahrez: “I was able to stay focused… I’m happy”
At the end of the meeting, the Algerian Manchester City striker told Canal +: “It’s never easy to come and win at Chelsea, but we were solid and we deserve the three points. With a hint of humour, Mahrez adds: “It’s the kind of goal I never usually score, when you can’t score an easier goal than that (smiles). »
| READ ALSO: Mahrez on the way to regaining his best level
Regarding Pep’s choice to leave him on the bench, Riyad puts it into perspective: “The coach tried something. Sometimes we start when we are less well and other times it is the opposite. You always have to be ready, even if you are disappointed at the start, because you always want to play. But I knew how to stay focused, because I knew I could help the team at any time and that’s what I did. I am happy. »
.@Mahrez22‘s match-winning moment! ✨ pic.twitter.com/1AyZT61A7M
—Manchester City (@ManCity) January 6, 2023
With this victory, the Skyblues consolidate their place as 2nd in the Premier League (with 39 points) and are 5 points behind the leader, Arsenal (44 points). On the same day, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners could not overcome Newcastle and settled for a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
