PEP PHILS HIS BOOTS Foden gives Guardiola foothold in semis
PEP GUARDIOLA never does things the easy way in the Champions League.
And, once again, they had to dig deep in a crazy roller coaster finish at the Etihad that saw them get pegged back and then grab a precious last-gasp winner through Phil Foden.
Just imagine if the fans had been inside the stadium to witness such an incredible ending.
But it will surely still be enough to get Manchester City into the semi-finals after bailing out in the quarters in the last three seasons.
Maybe we have come to expect City never to do things the easy way in the Champions League, especially not under Pep Guardiola
(right).
They will start next week’s return leg as red-hot favourites even if Dortmund still carry a major threat through Erling Haaland in attack and the prodigious talent of Jude Bellingham in midfield.
But they were still undone by Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliance as he shone again with another man-ofthe-match show and the first goal.
That was City’s best moment of the match, the decisive and defining moment of the tie.
Yet it will also be remembered for another refereeing disaster and VAR mix-up.
Romanian referee Ovidiu Hatega correctly chalked off one penalty decision after consulting his touchline monitor – after originally pointing to the spot following Emre Can’s clumsy challenge on Rodri.
But then Hatega inexplicably disallowed Bellingham’s firsthalf equaliser after the England midfielder nicked the ball off Ederson’s toe.
That was a let off-for City but also showed that Dortmund may be struggling in the Bundesliga but can still have their moments and are seasoned European campaigners – even if they fluffed their lines last night.
They gifted City an 18th-minute lead after a horrible moment for former Liverpool midfielder Can.
Playing in central defence, Can played a clumsy pass and gave the
ball straight to Riyad Mahrez and De Bruyne led a charge forward as City scythed through the Dortmund defence
Foden’s low cross found Mahrez at the back post, the winger then cut it back for De Bruyne who had continued his run and fired in a low shot.
It was a perfect start for City and it nearly got even better when they thought they had a penalty.
De Bruyne sent over a free-kick, Can flicked a foot out without looking, down went midfielder Rodri clutching his face and referee Hategan pointed to the spot.
But replays showed there was no contact, Rodri made a meal of it, the Romanian ref checked his touchline monitor and then changed his decision – the correct decision.
However, Hategan then got it completely wrong soon after – and this time VAR did not step in to help.
Bellingham, who had looked lively in Dortmund’s midfield, chased down the ball, nicked it off Ederson’s foot and yet it was ruled out.
If City got away with one before half-time, they had another escape just after the restart, as Mahmoud Dahoud’s slide-rule pass released Haaland, he brushed Ruben Dias aside but was denied by Ederson. Haaland set up Reus in the 83rd minute for a precious away goal and the Germans celebrated wildly.
But just as the clock was ticking down, De Bruyne’s long ball launched another attack and Foden popped up with a 90th-minute winner.
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Ederson 6; Walker 6, Stones 6, Dias 6, Joao Cancelo 6; Rodri 6, Gundogan 7; Mahrez 7, De Bruyne 8, Foden 7; Bernardo Silva 6 (Jesus 58, 6).
B DORTMUND (4-4-2): Hitz 6; Morey 6 (Meunier 81), Can 5, Hummels 6, Akanji 6; Bellingham 7, Dahoud 7 (Delaney 81) Guerreiro 6; Knauff 6 (63, 6), Haaland 7, Reus 7.
Junior comes of age with double to sink Reds
sive header from another Kroos pass which fell into the path of Asensio.
The Spanish forward chipped the ball over Alisson and then rounded the keeper before tapping it over the line in the 36th minute.
Klopp hauled Keita off soon after for Thiago. He didn’t look injured but the Reds boss wasn’t waiting until the break for the change.
The German must have restored some belief in his side at half-time as they came out looking like a different team.
And within six minutes, they got the away goal which gives them a chance next week.
Diogo Jota’s blocked effort bounced into the path of Salah and he found the net. Not revenge for Ramos’ challenge ending his 2018 final but at least showing a threat he can bring against the Spanish champions if on the pitch.
Suddenly, the Reds were flooding forward with confidence. Jota headed wide from a superb Alexanderarnold delivery.
But again poor defending them at the other end.
A simple ball across to Vinicius was turned home by the Brazilian in the 65th minute to secure the win.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Courtois 7; Vazquez 7, Militao 7, Nacho 7, Mendy 7; Kroos 8, Casemiro 7, Modric 7; Asensio 7 (Valverde 70, 6), Benzema 7, VINICIUS 8 (Rodrygo 85).
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 5; Alexander-arnold 5, Kabak 6 (Firmino 81), Phillips 5, Robertson 5; Keita 5 (Thiago 42, 6), Fabinho 6, Wijnaldum 5; Salah 7, Jota 6 (Shaqiri 81), Mane 5.
REFEREE: Felix Brych 6. cost