The German midfielder fired Man City to victory with two lethal finishes but then missed a penalty in a quality display that should have been better.
If Ilkay Gungogan ends up leaving Manchester City this summer when his contract runs out, they are going to miss him. The German midfielder is not City’s most prolific player by any stretch of the imagination but he sure knows where the goals is, as he proved with two ruthless first-half finishes in the 2-1 win over Leeds, showing excellent movement each time while combining with Riyad Mahrez.
But he will be kicking himself for not completing a hat-trick, hitting the post from the penalty spot after Erling Haaland, to Pep Guardiola’s fury, had generously handed him the ball. Just when City had expected to take a three-goal lead, they had their advantage reduced to just one goal, Rodrigo pouncing on a poor clearance by Manuel Akanji to score in the 85th minute moments after the penalty miss.
City suddenly seemed nervous but they had little reason to be. Leeds barely threatened them in the remaining minutes plus stoppage time, thanks to the visitors’ one-dimensional football under new manager Sam Allardyce.
