MANCHESTER -- Fernandinho scored a 90th minute own goal as Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace despite Pep Guardiola's scoring twice themselves in the final eight minutes.
Sergio Aguero thought he had won the game with goals in the 82nd and 87th minutes to cancel out Cenk Tosun's opener with his first Palace goal following his loan move from Everton. But moments after Aguero's second, Fernandinho turned in Wilfried Zaha's cross to hand Palace a point and see City lose more ground in the title race.
Positives
If you believe Guardiola, his team are playing only for pride and a place in next season's Champions League. Given Liverpool's huge lead at the top, it would be easy for City to roll over having found themselves a goal down but they didn't. It also helps when you've got a striker as good as Aguero in top form -- he's got seven goals in his last four games -- and the Argentinian's late double should have been enough to earn three points.
Negatives
Elements of Saturday's game will have infuriated Guardiola. Palace's first goal came from a set piece that should have been dealt with and having put themselves in front, City managed to concede a last minute equaliser when they should have been able to see out the rest of the game. If Aguero was a positive, they was plenty to upset the City manager.
Manager rating (out of 10)
6 -- Guardiola picked a strong team despite playing again in midweek but they struggled to find any rhythm in the first half. His decision to throw on Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez in the second half looked to have to worked before the late own goal.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Ederson, 6 -- Made a good save when Tosun expertly brought down Wilfried Zaha's pass on the edge of the penalty area.
DF Joao Cancelo, 6 -- Thought he had won a penalty in the second half when his cross cannoned of Jairo Riedewald's foot and hand before the decision was overturned by VAR.
DF Benjamin Mendy, 6 -- His first-half performance prompted praise from Aymeric Laporte on social media and it was his cross from which Aguero headed in City's second.
John Stones was arguably at fault for both Palace goals as Man City were forced to settle for a point on Saturday.
DF John Stones, 4 -- Got away with a penalty shout in the first half when he bundled over Zaha in the area, was out-jumped by Gary Cahill for the Palace opener and couldn't get near Zaha in the build up to Fernandinho's own goal. Awful afternoon.
DF Fernandinho, 6 -- Terrific covering to stop Tosun scoring after a long punt upfield that caught out Ederson. Unlucky to turn in Zaha's cross in the last minute.
MF Ilkay Gundogan, 6 -- Was left watching at the back post when Tosun headed in to give Palace the lead after 39 minutes.
MF Kevin De Bruyne, 6 -- Hit the crossbar with a stunning free-kick from 30 yards after 14 minutes. Struggled to see much of the ball after that.
MF David Silva, 5 -- The Spaniard's 300th league game for City. His afternoon was over on the hour mark after he slipped and miscontrolled a pass in midfield.
MF Bernardo Silva, 6 -- Almost equalised but saw a fierce drive well saved by Vicente Guaita and had a close range effort saved by the Palace goalkeeper after the break.
FW Raheem Sterling, 6 -- Had a quiet afternoon and was sacrificed late one when Guardiola tried to close out the game by bringing on Rodri.
FW Sergio Aguero, 7 -- Fantastic movement at the back post to stab in Gabriel Jesus cross for his 250th Man City goal, then thought he had won it with a late header.
Substitutes
FW Gabriel Jesus, 6 (for David Silva, 61) -- Created the equaliser for Aguero.
FW Riyad Mahrez, NR (for Bernardo Silva, 73) -- On too late to make an impact at the attacking end.
MF Rodri, NR (for Raheem Sterling, 89) -- Introduced late on to limit Palace's attacks.
Source: espn.co.uk