- Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega dribbled past Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta
- The 31-year-old German kept his cool after a misplaced back pass from Rodri
- Jurgen Klopp has the eye of the tiger! He hasn’t seemed so confident since 2019. Listen to the It all starts podcast
Back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega stunned fans with a cheeky Cruyff turn inside the six-yard box during Manchester City’s 4-2 win over Crystal Palace.
The 31-year-old German remained calm and evaded Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta after a misplaced back pass from Rodri in the first half on Saturday.
The Premier League match was tied at 1-1 when Ortega got his team out of a difficult situation.
And fans were impressed with his silky smooth skills.
One said: ‘Stefan Ortega is worthless as a backup goalkeeper. ‘
Man City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega dribbled past Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta
The 31-year-old German kept his cool after a misplaced back pass from Rodri in the first half
Your browser does not support iframes.
‘That touch under extreme pressure is absolutely absurd. Could start for most teams in the division.”
Another fan said: ‘City’s players are just technically gifted OMG!! Ortega has a better first touch than Rashford.”
A third added: ‘Stephan Ortega is the best goalkeeper in the premier league after Ederson. The trust in that Cryuff touch.”
Ortega had retained his place in goal despite the return of City’s number 1 Ederson.
Ederson was forced off in the 1–1 draw against Liverpool on March 10 after a collision with Darwin Nunez and has missed City’s last three games.
Ortega has impressed in Ederson’s absence and City are keen for the 31-year-old to extend his current contract, which expires at the end of next season.
Asked whether Ortega’s form makes his decision on Ederson’s return more difficult, City boss Guardiola said: “Yes, Stefan is playing really well, so we have to think about that too.”
Scott (Carson) is obviously an important third goalkeeper and important for many reasons.
‘But Eddie and Stefen… we are so safe because they are both exceptional goalkeepers, exceptional.’
Man City kept up the pressure on their title rivals and Kevin de Bruyne scored his 100th goal for the club in their 4-2 win over Crystal Palace.
There were doubts as to whether or not the Belgian or Erling Haaland would be in the starting line-up for the lunchtime kick-off at Selhurst Park, where the in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta fired the hosts ahead three minutes after kick-off. out.
De Bruyne leveled moments later and City took the lead for the first time less than two minutes after the restart through Rico Lewis’s second Premier League goal, before De Bruyne set up Haaland for City’s third.
De Bruyne then added another with a solo effort to make it a century of goals for City in the 70th minute.
Palace substitute Odsonne Edouard got the ball back late on, and although Pep Guardiola’s men tried to improve on the crucial end-of-season scoring stats, they could not find a fifth in seven minutes of second-half stoppage time.