Moussa trap is painful for Pep
PEP GUARDIOLA’S winning start as boss of Manchester City came to an end in a sixgoal Champions League thriller here last night.
Celtic restored some of their shattered pride after the 7-0 defeat against Barcelona in their opening Group C game by wrecking City’s hopes of equalling Tottenham’s top-flight record of 11 wins set 56 years ago.
While Guardiola will be alarmed by seeing his team concede three times for the first time under his command, he will be consoled by their character to dig out a draw, especially as in their previous 10 games they had never been behind.
Three times they were in arrears last night with former Fulham striker Moussa Dembele grabbing two while Raheem Sterling was credited with an own-goal after deflecting Kieran Tierney’s shot past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
But three times in a breathtaking game, City stormed back to equalise, through Luis Fernandinho, a brilliant effort from Sterling and Manuel Nolito.
And only a brilliant addedtime save by Craig Gordon from Ilkay Gundogan denied them victory.
Perhaps inspired by the desire to make amends for their Euro humiliation a fortnight ago against Barcelona, Celtic flew out of the blocks.
They were behind after only three minutes in the Nou Camp but this time they took the lead in the third minute when City were caught cold from Scott Brown’s free-kick. James Forrest volleyed the ball into the six-yard box where Erik Sviatchenko’s diving header was turned into the net by Dembele’s chest.
The goal set the tone for a thrilling first half. It was the first time City had trailed in a game this season and for a few minutes they were rocking in a typically raucous Parkhead atmosphere, with Celtic threatening to increase their lead.
But they eventually found some composure and were level after 11 minutes. Aleksandar Kolarov’s longrange shot was deflected into the path of Fernandinho who, with Celtic appealing in vain for offside, took a touch before tucking his shot low inside a post.
Celtic became the first side to score twice against Guardiola’s team this season when they regained the lead after 20 minutes.
City backed off as Tom Rogic surged forward before threading a pass through the defence for the overlapping Tierney to fire home with his shot taking a vital deflection off Sterling, who was credited with an own-goal.
But back came City with Sterling scoring a brilliant goal at the other end.
David Silva dispossessed Brown in midfield and, after exchanging passes with Gundogan, threaded a ball through for Sterling to spin past Mikael Lustig and Gordon to slide a shot home.
There was no let-up after the break and Celtic caught City cold by taking the lead for the third time in the 47th minute.
Kolarov made a hash of an attempted clearance and Dembele, with his back to goal, controlled the ball on his thigh before spinning to volley home.
But again City stormed back. Gordon twice saved from Nolito and also from Gundogan’s free-kick but in the 55th minute he was beaten.
A superb interchange between Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Silva resulted in Aguero’s shot being parried by Gordon straight into the path of Nolito, who sidefooted his shot into the empty net.
City took full control for the rest of the game but they could not find a winner with Fernandinho coming closest with a shot that flew inches off over the bar before Gordon pulled off a fine instinctive save from Gundogan.
CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Gordon; Lustig, Toure, Sviatchneko, Tierney; Brown, Bitton (Griffiths 84); Sinclair, Rogic (Armstrong 57), Forrest (Roberts 81); Dembele. Goals: Dembele 3, 47, Sterling 20 og.
MAN CITY (4-1-4-1): Bravo; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy (Stones 73); Fernandinho; Sterling, Gundogan, Silva, Nolito (Fernando 76); Aguero. Goals: Fernandinho 11, Sterling 28, Nolito 55.
Referee: N Rizzoi (Italy).