Leroy Sane completes stunning Manchester City recovery in pulsating win over Monaco
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Updated 22/02/2017 at 08:30 GMT
Champions League last 16 first leg, Etihad Stadium - Manchester City 5 (Sterling 26', Agüero 58', 71', Stones 77', Sané 82') AS Monaco 3 (Falcao 32', 61', Mbappé 40')
Leroy Sane celebrates scoring City's fifth goal.
Image credit: Eurosport
At the end of a ludicrous, wonderful, exhilarating game, it was Manchester City who left the pitch elated, coming from 3-2 down to storm home 5-3; it will take an almighty home effort from Monaco to prevent them from reaching the last eight.
Both sides began well, swapping incisive attacks before lovely play from Leroy Sane led to Raheem Sterling putting City ahead on 26 minutes. But Monaco were level seven minutes later, Radamel Falcao sending a diving header past Willy Caballero after a superb cross from Fabinho.
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Monaco's Colombian forward Radamel Falcao celebrates scoring an equalising goal for 1-1 during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg football match between Manchester City and Monaco at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on Feb
Image credit: AFP
And shortly before half-time, Monaco went ahead, Kylian Mbappe's brilliant finish soaring into the roof of the net minutes after Sergio Aguero had been denied a penalty.
City came out to attack in the second half, but when Nicolas Otamendi was caught out - not for the first time - and conceded a penalty, they looked almost out of the tie. But Caballero saved Falcao's poor effort, an error quickly compounded when Sergio Aguero's shot went through Danijel Subasic at the near post.
It seemed not to matter all that much when Falcao bullied John Stones on the edge of the box and caressed a delicious chip over Caballero and into the net, but as Monaco tired and collapsed Ageuro volleyed home from a corner on 71 minutes, Stones slid in on 77, and Sane benefited from a typically lithe link-up between David Silva and Aguero to give City a two-goal lead.
So a glorious evening ended with a definitive winner, and a definitive favourite, but with two such potent attacks and two suck miserable defences, it's impossible to predict the second leg on March 15 with any conviction, other than to say that only a fool will miss it.
TALKING POINT
What happened to Monaco? Well though City played, there is no excuse for how pitifully Monaco folded. Perhaps they were tired - City are very fit and very fast - but Tiemoue Bakayoko and Fabinho disappeared when their defenders needed them most.
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Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) and Tiemoué Bakayoko (Monaco)
Image credit: AFP
MAN OF THE MATCH
Leroy Sane (Manchester City) Not a choice that looked likely at any point in the first 70 minutes, well though he played - they game's dominant figures were all wearing red and white. But as City hauled themselves back into the tie, he was a constant threat, having already created the first goal, and Djibril Sidibe will not be looking forward to seeing him again.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Manchester City: Caballero 6, Sagna 5, Stones 5, Otamendi 4, Fernandinho 4, Toure 5, sterling 7, Silva 6, De Bruyne 6, Sane 9, Aguero 7. Subs: Zabaleta 6, Fernando 6, Navas 6.
Monaco: Subasic 4, Sidibe 5, Raggi 5, Glik 4, Mendy 7, Fabinho 6, Bakayoko 5, Lemar 6, Silva 8, Mbappe 8, Falcao 8. Subs: Germain 6, Moutinho 6, Dirar 6.
KEY STATS
Eight goals is the most that has ever been scored in a Champions League knockout tie, first leg.
Falcao is the only player to miss two penalties in the Champions League this season.
KEY MOMENTS
26’ - GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Monaco (Sterling) Brilliant from Sane, who immediately goes at Sidibe, veering infield and displaying luscious footwork in the process, allowing Silva to take over once he's crowded out. Silva then slips in the kind of pass he should have played earlier in the half, Sane lifting his right foot so that it arrives onto his left, whereupon he zips a low cross into the middle for Sterling to punch home. Lovely goal.
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Manchester City's Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
32’ - GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Monaco (Falcao) As I was saying, what a player! Caballero tries to be clever with a clearance to the left, Silva wins the ball back and feeds Fabinho outside him; he swerves a belter of a cross into the middle. and there's the maestro diving to head into the far corner!
35’ - Er, really? Really? REALLY! Aguero finds himself through on goal, Subasic slides in, tickles the ball, Aguero makes it his business to fall over his leg - on first viewing, it looked a penalty, I must say - but he ends up with a booking, to Guardiola's gross amusement. Oh, he's a-slapping his thighs and a-wetting his pants, but the truth is I’ve now seen the incident five or six times and I’m still not sure what was what.
40’ - GOAL! Manchester City 1-2 Monaco (Mbappe) Dearie me, and wow! Chip over the top from Fabinho, Otamendi and Stones hang about sword-fighting, so Mbappe skips through, steadies himself, makes a sandwich, and snaps a shot into the roof of the net at the near post. What a finish that was!
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Guardiola: Nights like this help you be a better team
48’ - Mendy looks a real player! And again he escapes down the left, rinsing over another low cross as Otamendi sleeps - a desperate tackle seems to do just enough to put Falcao off ... BUT THE LINESMAN SAYS PENALTY! Otamendi does rattle the back of Falcao, it just doesn't look bad as he's already committed forward - the decision took a while to come, there'll be criticism, but I thought it was correct.
50’ - FALCAO MISSES ANOTHER PENALTY! He stutters and tries to place it towards the bottom left corner, but Caballero hasn't bought the feint and is down to it fast, holding on easily!
58’ - GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Monaco (Aguero) Bernardo Silva is conducting beautifully, but after he spreads play left and it comes back inside, Sterling intercepts and slides a lovely ball into Aguero's path as he zones forward at inside-right. Still, there's plenty left to do, and he laces a fair shot towards the near post, WHERE SUBASIC ALLOWS IT THROUGH HIM! DEAR OH DEAR OH DEAR!
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Sergio Aguero celebrates
Image credit: AFP
61’ - GOAL! Manchester City 2-3 Monaco (Falcao) City lose the ball around the edge of the Monaco box and one long pass sets Falcao on Stones, just outside the box, left-hand side. He shoves Stones out of the road like he's made of candy floss, then wedges his foot under a glorious chip and City are back in all sorts!
71’ - WHAT A GOAL! Manchester City 3-3 Monaco (Aguero) City win a corner on the right which De Bruyne heaves towards the far post - Stones misses his header, but Aguero is already adjusting his body-shape, extending his right foot perpendicular to his body and volleying hard and low back into the far corner. I've not the slightest idea how this is going to finish; 13-13?
77’ - GOAL! Manchester City 4-3 Monaco (Stones) Maybe Stones is really a striker! City win a corner down the left, again, De Bruyne's delivery is super, and when Toure flicks on, Stones slides in at the far stick. What a game!
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