Gabriel Jesus struck a hat-trick as Manchester City took a giant step towards the last 16 of the Champions League courtesy of an emphatic 6-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens took the lead on 13 minutes through David Silva's close-range finish, but their overwhelmingly dominant display will be overshadowed by a refereeing howler that led to their second goal soon after.
Raheem Sterling raced into the left side of the Shakhtar area, but clumsily kicked the ground and tripped himself before he could pull the trigger. However, much to everyone's bemusement, referee Vikor Kassai pointed to the spot. Jesus stepped up and made no mistake to double the hosts' lead and snare his first of the night.
Sterling's evening then went from the ridiculous to the sublime as he made it three with a stunning solo goal just after the restart.
Jesus then grabbed another from the spot after David Silva was tumbled by Taras Stepanenko before Riyad Mahrez made it five.
Jesus put the icing on the cake when he secured the home team's biggest ever Champions League win with a lovely lob in stoppage time to claim his treble.
The Citizens will now hope to confirm their spot in the knockout stage when they visit Lyon on November 27, but first on the agenda is the small matter of the Manchester derby at home to United on Sunday.
TALKING POINT
City's first penalty. The Citizens were once again utterly dominant against an opponent this season and hit six for the second time in a matter of days - but the major talking point to come out of this game has to be 'that' first penalty award. It was rather ludicrous and even had Guardiola gesturing to the fourth official that it shouldn't have been given.
Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling (L) falls by Shakhtar Donetsk's Ukrainian defender Mykola Matviyenko to gain a penalty during a UEFA Champions League group F football match between Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Etihad st
Image credit: Getty Images
Shakhtar quite rightly felt let down by the decision and some even suggested Sterling should have pointed out the error to the referee a la Robbie Fowler versus Arsenal in 1997. Whatever you make of the England international's actions in the immediate aftermath, what is certain is that such a farcical decision would have been overturned VAR. It has its critics, but for this type of situation its introduction to this competition next season can't come soon enough.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Gabriel Jesus (Man City). The Brazilian took his tally for City to five for the season as he netted at the Etihad for the first time since August. The 21-year-old hasn't quite been firing on all cylinders so far this term, but this will give him a major lift and is bad news for the opponents facing an already frighteningly ruthless City.
Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring a hat trick to make it 6-0 during a UEFA Champions League group F football match between Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
MAN CITY: Ederson 7, Walker 7, Stones 7, Laporte 7, Zinchenko 8, Fernandinho 8, David Silva 8, Mahrez 8, Bernardo Silva 8, Sterling 8, Jesus 8. Subs: Danilo 6, Gundogan 7, Delph 6.
SHAKHTAR: Pyatov 6, Matviyenko 5, Kryvtsov 5, Rakitskiy 5, Ismaily 6, Stepanenko 5, Maycon 5, Bolbat 5, Kovalenko 5, Taison 5, Moraes 5. Subs: Kayode 5, Nem 5, Alan Patrick 5.
KEY MOMENTS
13' - GOAL! Man City 1-0 Shakhtar. David Silva tucks home from close range after brilliant play by Mahrez on the right.
24' - GOAL! Man City 2-0 Shakhtar. Jesus sends Pyatov the wrong way from the spot with a composed penalty kick. It was awarded after Sterling kicked the floor as he looked to pull the trigger. It wasn't a dive or a penalty, but the fall fooled the referee.
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts to a missed opportunity during a UEFA Champions League group F football match between Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northwest England on November 7, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
48' - GOAL! Man City 3-0 Shakhtar. That's sublime from Sterling. He turns in the midfield, surges beyond two and curves a wonderful 25-yard effort into the far corner.
72' - GOAL! Man City 4-0 Shakhtar. Jesus steps up once more and fires high into the net from the spot, once again sending Pyatov the wrong way.
84' - GOAL! Man City 5-0 Shakhtar. It's five-star City! Mahrez squeezes a driven shot through the keeper after he was given time to take down Gundogan's hoisted pass.
90+2' - GOAL! Man City 6-0 Shakhtar. It's six of the best and Gabriel Jesus has a HAT-TRICK. The Brazilian is set free by Mahrez's pass and clips a sublime lob over Pyatov to claim the match ball.
KEY STATS
David Silva has scored three goals in the 2018-19 Champions League, his best ever tally in a single season in the competition.
Jesus is the first player to score two penalties in a Champions League game for an English club since Wayne Rooney did so for Manchester United against Otelul Galati in October 2011.
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