Kompany's Heatseeker Out-Foxes the Foxes, Puts Man City Back on Top

Published on 6-May-2019 by Axel Krüger

Soccer    Soccer Daily Update

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Kompany's Heatseeker Out-Foxes the Foxes, Puts Man City Back on Top

It's heard in basketball all the time. A player's got the ball in the next area code and winds up to launch one.

His coach watches in horror and starts to protest before seeing the ball swish through the net for a key basket and make him look like a genius:

No! No! No! ... Great shot!

 

We've now seen the footballing equivalent.

With a mere 20 minutes left between taking control of the Premiership title race and losing crucial ground to Liverpool, Vincent Kompany of all people was loading up from 30 yards out. Dude was apparently tiring of the 0-0 draw to that point.

Citizen manager Pep Guardiola couldn't believe his eyes and started shouting in an attempt to talk his side's captain out of it.

Good thing he didn't:

 

The Belgian international clearly has a sharp sense of timing.

By that time, the Foxes had been spending so many spells of putting the entire team behind the ball that they had neither the form nor mentality to muster a response.

 

Until that moment, Leicester 'keeper Kasper Schmeichel had kept his club in this one.

For example, the Dane absolutely robbed Sergio Agüero with this reflexive stab:

 

His teammates had two strong chances to break Sky Blue hearts, but their finishing was appalling.

Here's James Maddison not doing justice to a rare and dogged run by center-back Harry Maguire, of all dudes:

 

Then there was this hasty misfire in the 87th minute, when City's defense fell asleep at the switch and so much of the goal was open:

 

That's another indicaation of how narrow the Citizens' hold was on the extra two points that's now the difference between them and the 'Pool:

City closes out at Brighton, who just trashed Arsenal's dreams this past weekend. Liverpool, meanwhile, host the up-&-coming Wolves -- lotsa fresh ownership dosh will do that -- and they'll no doubt be throwing everything they've got up front.

If the Seagulls manage to upset the Citzens and the Reds are held to a draw, it'd better be a  high-scoring one. City has them by four in goal difference.

 

Still, if Kompany didn't seize the moment like he did, it'd be the 'Pool on the inside track.

That's what happens when a player acts on body rhythm instead of coach's micro-management.

Basketball could learn a thing or two about that.