West Ham 2-2 Manchester City: Riyad Mahrez’s late penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski as Hammers hold on

Riyad Mahrez had a late penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski as Manchester City missed the chance to move six points clear of Liverpool in a thrilling 2-2 draw with West Ham at the London Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side came into the game knowing victory would put them on the brink of the title but having fought back from two goals down, they had to settle for a draw after Mahrez’s 86th-minute spot-kick was repelled by Fabianski.

West Ham had threatened to blow the title race wide open as the brilliant Jarrod Bowen scored two breakaway goals in the first half at an emotional London Stadium, where captain Mark Noble came off the bench for his last home appearance for the club.

But City fought back in the second period, with Jack Grealish beating Fabianski with a deflected strike from Rodri’s header shortly after the break before Vladimir Coufal inadvertently headed a Mahrez free-kick into his own net.

City piled on the pressure in the closing stages and looked set to complete the turnaround when Craig Dawson was penalised for a foul on Gabriel Jesus in the West Ham box following a VAR review, but Fabianski guessed correctly to keep Mahrez’s penalty out.

City, four points clear of Liverpool, will be crowned champions if Jurgen Klopp’s side lose their game in hand against Southampton, live on Sky Sports on Tuesday, but any other outcome at St Mary’s Stadium will ensure the race goes down to the final day.

Title race permutations

Man City are up to 90 points with one game to play. But Liverpool, with their game in hand, can still get to 92.

If Liverpool win at Southampton on Tuesday, City will need to at least match Liverpool’s result against Wolves when they host Aston Villa at the Etihad to guarantee the title.

Defeat for Liverpool at St Mary’s would mean City are champions.

A draw on the south coast would almost be enough for City, too. Liverpool would then require a huge win over Wolves and a Man City defeat to take the crown.

Player ratings

West Ham: Fabianski (9), Coufal (6), Zouma (7), Dawson (7), Cresswell (6), Rice (8), Soucek (7), Lanzini (7), Fornals (8), Bowen (9), Antonio (8).

Subs: Noble (6).

Man City: Ederson (6), Cancelo (6), Fernandinho (6), Laporte (6), Zinchenko (6), Rodri (8), De Bruyne (7), Grealish (8), Silva (7), Mahrez (6), Jesus (7).

Subs: None.

Man of the match: Jarrod Bowen.

How West Ham held City on emotional day

There was a stirring tribute to Noble before kick-off as the club captain took to the pitch to soak up the applause of the home supporters, who held up a giant tifo depicting his name and number.

The electric atmosphere seemed to lift Noble’s team-mates when the action got under way and West Ham fashioned an early scoring opportunity when Dawson sent a header onto the roof of the net from a Pablo Fornals cross.

City soon began to dominate possession, creating a flurry of half-chances and also seeing a penalty appeal waved away after Kurt Zouma appeared to catch Gabriel Jesus, but the hosts were primed for opportunities to spring forward and that’s how the opener arrived.

Image: Jarrod Bowen celebrates after giving West Ham the lead

Fernandinho was caught out of position as he went up for a header with Michail Antonio, and Fornals reacted by lifting an excellent first-time pass into the space behind him, where Bowen raced through on goal having lost Oleksandr Zinchenko.

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The 25-year-old then kept his cool to take the ball around Ederson and slot an angled finish into the unguarded net as the London Stadium erupted in celebration.

Gabriel Jesus was inches away from levelling for City soon afterwards when his low effort from inside the West Ham box flashed past the post following a driving run by Zinchenko.

But West Ham continued to hold firm and Zinchenko was exposed again at the other end as the hosts doubled their advantage when Bowen latched onto Michail Antonio’s clever, chipped pass before beating Ederson for a second time.

Image: Jack Grealish pulled one back for Man City after half-time

The goal left City with a mountain to climb in the second period but their response was immediate as Grealish’s volley from the edge of the box took a nick off a West Ham player on its way into the net.

Fabianski then denied Jesus and Bernardo Silva as the visitors went in search of a leveller but there were chances for the Hammers too.

Bowen fired into the side-netting following another error by Zinchenko and Antonio, otherwise excellent for West Ham, then spurned a one-on-one chance after latching onto a poor Fernandinho backpass and lifting the ball well wide.

City swiftly punished that miss as Mahrez’s wicked delivery was diverted past Fabianski by Coufal, who lay with his head buried in the turf, the equaliser setting up a grandstand finale.

Image: Riyad Mahrez’s penalty is saved by Lukasz Fabianski

David Moyes threw on Noble, who received a huge ovation from the home supporters, but it seemed he would be signing out with a defeat when referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot for the penalty having consulted the pitchside monitor.

But Fabianski, who had already made a number of important saves, got two hands to Mahrez’s penalty, ensuring the title race remains alive – and West Ham, now two points behind Manchester United in sixth, remain in contention for a Europa League finish.

What’s next?

Manchester City face Aston Villa and West Ham travel to Brighton on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday at 4pm.

Man City’s remaining fixture

May 22 – Aston Villa (h) Premier League

Liverpool’s remaining fixtures

May 17 – Southampton (a) Premier League, live on Sky Sports

May 22 – Wolves (h) Premier League