Haaland spot kick gives Man City 1-0 win over stubborn Palace

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City needed a second-half penalty from striker Erling Haaland to break the resistance of a dogged Crystal Palace and secure a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

The win moved City to 61 points after 27 games, two behind leaders Arsenal, who play Fulham on Sunday, and 12 ahead of third-placed Manchester United.

The visitors made a swift start, with midfielder Rodri clipping a powerful third-minute volley straight at keeper Vicente Guaita and Jack Grealish pulling a shot just wide, but with the home side packing their defence, City had a hard time breaking them down.

In a sign of frustration, Haaland smashed a shot from a very tight angle goalwards just before the half-hour mark and then blasted the rebound wide as his side dominated possession.

The second half was equally deadlocked until City's breakthrough finally came when captain Ilkay Gundogan was upended in the box following a clumsy late challenge by Michael Olise.

Haaland smashed home the spot kick low to the keeper's left in the 78th minute for his 34th goal of the season in all competitions and, with Palace failing to register a shot on target for the third Premier League game in a row, City held on to win comfortably.

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Toby Davis)