Last-gasp Foden strike puts City in the driving seat
PHIL Foden struck in the last minute as Manchester City snatched a 2-1 win in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund.
The quadruple-chasing Premier League leaders had looked like they would have to settle for a draw at the Etihad Stadium when Marco Reus levelled for the German side six minutes from time.
Foden, who had twice tested Dortmund keeper Marwin Hitz in the second half of a controversial encounter, hit back from close range as the clock ran down.
City, who took the lead through Kevin De Bruyne, now have the edge heading into next week’s second leg in Germany, but having failed at the last-eight stage in the last three seasons, Pep Guardiola’s side will be well aware they still have work to do.
City were ruthless in pouncing on a mistake to snatch the lead after 19 minutes.
Former Liverpool midfielder Emre Can mishit a pass straight to Riyad Mahrez and the Algerian quickly launched a counter-attack by releasing De Bruyne. Foden then whipped in a low ball from the left and Mahrez’s cutback from the byline was tapped in at close range by De Bruyne.
Despite going ahead, City did not look comfortable. Some sloppy play on the edge of their own box almost allowed in Reus but Ederson blocked.
City were given a penalty on the half-hour after Rodri went down clutching his face following a challenge with Can. It was not clear whether contact had been made and, after being asked to check the monitor by the VAR, referee Ovidiu Hategan — who awarded Switzerland a controversial penalty in a 2018 World Cup play-off against Northern Irealnd — reversed his decision.
Further controversy involving the Romanian official soon followed as he bizarrely disallowed a Jude Bellingham equaliser.
Bellingham had closed down Ederson as he attempted a clearance and ended up taking the ball and tapping home as the Brazilian missed his kick. Any contact was Ederson catching Bellingham, but Hategan gave a foul against Dortmund.
Erling Haaland finally got a chance to show his pace early in the second half as he outsprinted Ruben Dias to get in on goal but Ederson was alert to the danger.
City went close on the hour when De Bruyne found Foden in front of goal but goalkeeper Hitz blocked his first-time shot.
City looked set to rue that miss as Dortmund claimed an equaliser six minutes from time. Haaland cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Reus who broke into the area to clip over Ederson.
That sparked City into action again and they reclaimed the lead in the final minute as Foden turned in from close range.
MAN CITY: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden, Silva (Jesus 59).
Subs not used: Ake, Sterling, Aguero, Zinchenko, Steffen, Laporte, Torres, Mendy, Fernandinho, Garcia, Trafford.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Hitz, Morey (Meunier 81), Can, Hummels, Akanji, Bellingham, Dahoud (Delaney 81), Guerreiro, Knauff (Reyna 63), Haaland, Reus.
Subs not used: Burki, T Hazard, Schulz, Brandt, Carvalho, Piszczek, Tigges, Passlack, Drljaca.
Referee: Ovidiu Hategan (Romania)
Man of the match: Phil Foden
Match rating: 7/10