Manchester Metropolis’s Rodrigo walks off the pitch after being proven a purple card throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester Metropolis and Nottingham Forest at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Credit score: AP/Jon Tremendous
Manchester Metropolis’s Rodrigo, middle, speaks to referee Anthony Taylor after being proven a purple card throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester Metropolis and Nottingham Forest at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Credit score: AP/Jon Tremendous
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri was despatched off for grabbing an opponent across the neck in a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday that prolonged the defending champions’ excellent begin to their Premier League title protection.
Phil Foden and Erling Haaland scored within the opening 14 minutes however the second half was extra of a defensive effort from Metropolis after Rodri was despatched off inside a minute of the restart.
The Spain worldwide responded to getting shoved by Morgan Gibbs-White close to the nook flag by going chest to chest with the Forest playmaker after which inserting each of his arms round his neck on two events. Gibbs-White went down after the second time and the referee confirmed a straight purple card for violent conduct.
Rodri — the scorer of Metropolis’s winner in final season’s Champions League ultimate and arguably the group’s most vital participant — will miss Metropolis’s subsequent three video games, together with a visit to doubtless title rival Arsenal on Oct. 8.
Metropolis, which has now gained its first six video games of the marketing campaign, had few issues holding on to the lead regardless of Forest having fun with extra possession within the second half, with Haaland solely having one probability after the break to attain his second and add to his eight league targets this season. The Norway striker volleyed over from shut vary from substitute Nathan Ake’s cross on a counterattack.
Haaland needed to accept scoring a robust header into the highest nook from Matheus Nunes’ right-wing cross within the 14th minute, which constructed on Foden’s seventh-minute opener from a 46-pass transfer — the second longest passing sequence resulting in a Premier League objective since figures had been collated from 2006-07, based on stats firm Opta.
It completed with Kyle Walker shedding Rodri’s incisive move to the correct wing and Foden offering a left-foot end into the underside nook.
Manchester Metropolis’s Rodrigo, middle, speaks to referee Anthony Taylor after being proven a purple card throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester Metropolis and Nottingham Forest at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Credit score: AP/Jon Tremendous
Metropolis goalkeeper Ederson Moraes preserved the host’s clear sheet with a fantastic diving save to disclaim Anthony Elanga’s volley in stoppage time.