Manchester City moved to within touching distance of the Premier League summit after sweeping aside Sunderland 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium, a result illuminated by a moment of pure, irresistible genius from Rayan Cherki. On a day when Arsenal had already slipped to defeat at Aston Villa, Pep Guardiol’s side seized their opportunity with characteristic ruthlessness but it was Cherki’s outrageous flair that will be replayed for years.
City controlled the ball in typical fashion from the outset, yet the opening half hour brought frustration rather than chances. Erling Haaland was kept unusually quiet, while Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva both spurned early looks at goal. Sunderland, organized and stubborn under Regis Le Bris, had arrived in Manchester on a run of just one defeat in seven and initially succeeded in suffocating City’s rhythm.
Then Ruben Dias decided to tear up the script.
The center back, not usually known for long range heroics, strode forward in the 31st minute and unleashed a thunderous 25 yards effort that clipped Dan Ballard and rocketed into the top corner. It was a strike reminiscent of Vincent Kompany’s iconic title chasing goal in 2019 and it instantly loosened City’s nerves.
Within four minutes the lead had doubled. Foden, quietly growing in influence after a quiet start, delivered a teasing in swinging corner, and Josko Gvardiol rose above a crowded six yard box to plan a firm downward header beyond Robin Roefs. City, who had squandered multi goal leads twice in the past week, suddenly looked comfortable and composed again.
Sunderland threatened briefly after the break. First Wilson Isidor exploited a rare lapse from goals scorer Dias, but Giangluigi Donnarumma raced out to smother brilliantly. Moments later Granit Xhaka rattled the post with a crisp half volley, reminding City that the contest was not yet buried.
Then came the moment that ended it and the moment that stole the headlines.
In the 65th minute, Cherk, dancing inside the box with the swagger of a street football prodigy, sat Omar Alderete on the turf before whipping an outrageous rabona cross to the far post. Foden met it perfectly, heading the ball in off the crossbar to score for the third consecutive league game. He celebrated by sprinting straight to Cherki, who knows he’s just produced something outrageous.
It was the second assist of the day for the Frenchman, who also slipped the pass that led to Dias opener and he might have had more had Tijjani Reijnders or Haaland found their finishing touch.
City cruised through the final stages, their dominance unthreatened even after Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien was sent off in stoppage time for a reckless lunge on Matheus Nunes. The Black Cats remain seventh but must regroup quickly ahead of next week’s Tyne Wear derby.
For City, the message was clear: they are finding form at exactly the right moment. Arsenal’s cushion has shrunk from seven pions to two in a fortnight. And with Cherki and Foden in electric form, Guardiol’s champions look ready to hunt down the summit once again.
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