Last-gasp winner from Sterling puts City in command after penalty farce

monitor was broken.

It was a breathless encounter. Schalke, 14th in the Bundesliga, had largely been written off before the game and they began as if their only ambition was damage limitation. But they contributed to their own downfall as City grabbed the lead after 18 minutes, with David Silva robbing Salif Sane and squaring to Aguero for a simple tap-in.

Schalke’s highly contentious equaliser came after a City mistake as Kevin De Bruyne lost possession to Weston Mckennie, who then released Daniel Caligiuri. Caligiuri’s long-range shot was deflected wide by Otamendi and initially a corner was given. Caligiuri, however, protested furiously that the City defender had handled and VAR eventually agreed after a delay in which there was much frustration and confusion. Having been told there may have been a clear and obvious mistake, referee Carlos Del Cerro Grande should have had the option to review the incident himself. Yet, while debate raged over whether Otamendi’s handling had been intentional, it was reported the pitchside monitor was broken and the Spanish official was told to award the penalty.

The whole affair was farcical but Bentaleb did not complain. He accepted the gift and blasted home the penalty before repeating the trick a few minutes later after Fernandinho was adjudged to have fouled Salif Sane.

Otamendi and Fernandinho were booked over those incidents, ruling them out of the second leg even before

0 Raheem Sterling celebrates his late winner at Schalke last night.

the Argentine went on to have that rubber-stamped by getting sent off after the break. Otamendi was booked for a second time for a poor challenge on Guido Burgstaller and had to leave the field.

It seemed City were running out of ideas when Sane, sent on to replace Aguero after 78 minutes, levelled with a brilliant free-kick five minutes from time. City had been saved and they went on to snatch it when Sterling took advantage of poor defending to seize on a long ball and score.