ethernetacademy.netRico Lewis is hit by a lighter thrown by a fan.
Manchester City defeated Burnley 3-0 in the first round of the 2023-24 English Premier League (EPL) at Turf Moor in Burnley, England, at 4 a.m. ET on Wednesday. With three points, City moved into first place.
Despite the scoreline, City didn’t control the game from the start. City struggled against Burnley’s tactic of playing high up the pitch to put pressure on City’s back three. Unable to develop an attack through the middle, they opted to play passes out to the flanks, where Burnley met them with intense pressure as soon as City dropped the ball to the flanks.
Elling Holland’s goal early in the first half was a welcome relief. Holland’s goal from a set piece in the third minute of the first half gave City the lead, but they struggled to find the back of the net against Burnley.
Then, in the 19th minute, Lewis, who started at left-back for City, went down near the corner flag after a tussle with Burnley’s Connor Roberts and was struck by a lighter thrown by a fan in the stands nearby. Luckily, he wasn’t seriously injured, but it could have been worse had the fan thrown something more threatening than a lighter.
Win or lose, this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Throwing things at players from the stands has been a serious behavioral issue in the past, and even in the season immediately prior.
After the game, Burnley released an official statement saying, “We are aware that a lighter was thrown at City player Lewis in the first half. This is unacceptable. The person who threw the lighter was identified by police at the scene. The person who allegedly threw the lighter on the pitch will be banned from future matches.”토토사이트
Meanwhile, the game ended in favor of City, with Holland scoring a brace and Rodriguez a consolation. City were able to capitalize on their chances despite a strong Burnley counter-attack to take all three points on the opening day.