Man City 1-2 Leeds: Player ratings as Stuart Dallas secures smash and grab win

Stuart Dallas grabbed a stoppage time winner for Leeds
Stuart Dallas grabbed a stoppage time winner for Leeds / Michael Regan/Getty Images
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Despite dominating proceedings Manchester City were hit with a late sucker punch as the ten men of Leeds grabbed an unlikely 2-1 win, with a goal from Stuart Dallas in stoppage time at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

A tepid first half looked like ending without any real major incidents, though that all changed five minutes before half-time.

Firstly, Leeds took the lead as Dallas' pinpoint drive cannoned off the post and into the back of the net, before Liam Cooper was handed his marching orders after a VAR intervention saw his dangerous challenge on Raheem Sterling upgraded from a yellow card to a red.

With Bielsa's side down to ten men the second half essentially became a game of attack vs defence as City went in search of an equaliser, and the Leeds resistance was broken with 15 minutes to play.

A lovely bit of build-up play involving Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva resulted in Ferran Torres having a free shot on goal and he made no mistake in picking out the bottom corner.

City continued to flood forward in search of a winning goal, but in stoppage time they were struck with a hammer blow as Leeds sprung the counter-attack and Dallas ran through on goal to double his account for the afternoon and hand Leeds an unlikely victory.

That's the match highlights out of the way, now to those all important Man City and Leeds player ratings...


MAN CITY PLAYER RATINGS

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Ederson started between the sticks for City
Ederson started between the sticks for City / Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Ederson (GK) - 6/10 - Nothing he could do about either of Dallas' goals. Made a very smart challenge to deny Raphinha late on.

Joao Cancelo (RB) - 6/10 -
Caught out with a simple ball over the top in the lead up to Leeds' opener. Helped aid his side's attack in the second half and looked much more comfortable going forward than he did defending.

John Stones (CB) - 6/10 - Played more like a midfielder at times as he stepped up the pitch in a bid to beat the Leeds press. Took matters into his own hands by firing off shots from range but never looked like finding the back of the net.

Nathan Ake (CB) - 5/10 -
Picked up his fourth booking of the Premier League campaign with a needless early challenge. Withdrawn in the second half as City went in search of an equaliser.

Benjamin Mendy (LB) - 5/10 -
Too busy focusing on the attacking side of his game and ultimately afforded Raphinha way too much space in behind him. Even as an attacking outlet he offered very little quality and was hauled off with 15 minutes to play.


2. Midfielders

Fernandinho started in midfield
Fernandinho started in midfield / Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Fernandinho (DM) - 7/10 - Watched his teammates be unable to pick the Leeds lock in the first half so decided to do it himself - only for Sterling to fire wide. Continued to surge forward and was key to Torres' goal with 15 minutes left to play.

Bernardo Silva (CM) - 7/10 -
Constantly looked to drop deep and take the ball off the defence to launch attacks. Showed superb control in the build-up to the City equaliser as he grabbed himself an assist.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (CM) - 5/10 -
Provided width on the City left whenever Sterling ventured infield. Was busy all game but didn't really do anything that stood out.


3. Forwards

Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling was guilty of missing a couple of chances early on / Pool/Getty Images

Ferran Torres (RW) - 6/10 - Had a great opportunity from a free-kick in the first half but couldn't keep his header down. Good composure to fire past Illan Meslier and restore parity for the home side.

Gabriel Jesus (ST) - 5/10 -
Starved of service for much of the game and found himself dropping deeper and deeper in a bid to impact proceedings.

Raheem Sterling (LW) - 5/10 -
Missed the best chance of the first half as his timid shot rolled harmlessly wide having been afforded the freedom of the Leeds penalty area.


4. Substitutes

Ilkay Gundogan (CM) - 5/10

Phil Foden (CM) - 6/10


LEEDS PLAYER RATINGS

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Liam Cooper was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Raheem Sterling
Liam Cooper was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Raheem Sterling / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Illan Meslier (GK) - 5/10 - Lucky to escape without punishment after letting a simple pass role under his boot in the first half. Flapped at a couple of crosses and could easily have cost his side.

Luke Ayling (RB) - 6/10 -
Defended reasonably well as the home side's pressure began to mount in the second half.

Diego Llorente (CB) - 8/10 -
Played the role of Sterling's shadow for much of the game. Absolutely brilliant interception to prevent Ilkay Gundogan levelling the scoring just minutes after his arrival.

Liam Cooper (CB) - 4/10 -
Very dangerous challenge on Sterling just before half-time was originally punished with a yellow card, though a check of the monitor saw Andre Marriner overrule his decision and brandish a red.

Ezgjan Alioski (LB) - 6/10 -
Stuck to his task and showed good discipline to track the advancing Joao Cancelo for much of the game.


6. Midfielders

Stuart Dallas
Stuart Dallas opened the scoring at the Etihad Stadium / Pool/Getty Images

Kalvin Phillips (DM) - 7/10 - Began to grow in importance to his side as the clock ticked down. Recycled possession well whenever Leeds could get a foot on the ball and made some timely interceptions.

Stuart Dallas (CM) - 7/10 -
Lovely strike to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time and showed brilliant energy and composure to hand his side the win.

Tyler Roberts (CM) - 7/10 -
Played a huge part in Leeds' bid to carry the ball forward and alleviate the City pressure. Showed the nous to shield the ball and buy his side some time to regroup whenever he was in the City half.


7. Forwards

Helder Costa
Helder Costa was handed a rare start for Leeds / Pool/Getty Images

Raphinha (RW) - 7/10 - Looked menacing on the ball and was given the freedom of right-hand side by Benjamin Mendy. Possibly should have done better when through on goal late on but a good performance.

Patrick Bamford (ST) - 6/10 -
Clever little ball inside to Dallas for the first goal of the afternoon. Plenty of running for the team and was unlucky to be taken off after Leeds were reduced to ten men.

Helder Costa (LW) - 7/10 -
Replaced Jack Harrison who was ineligible to play against his parent club. Did well to anticipate Cancelo's missed header in the build-up to the Leeds opener.


8. Substitutes

Pascal Struijk was introduced in the first half
Pascal Struijk was introduced in the first half / Pool/Getty Images

Pascal Struijk (CB) - 6/10 - Introduced in the first half following Cooper's dismissal and can be pleased with his work. Possibly should have been tighter to Silva for the City equaliser but it was good movement to be fair to the Portuguese midfielder.

Robin Koch (CM) - 6/10

Jamie Shackleton (CM) - N/A