MORE EUROPEAN CITY AS DEMBELE MISERY FOR STRIKES
MANCHESTER CITY were sent crashing out of the Champions League after Moussa Dembele came off the bench to stun Pep Guardiola’s men with two late goals in Lisbon. Dembele, the 24-year-old former Fulham and Celtic striker, dumped Guardiola from the competition he covets most of all – just as the Blues looked like they would go on to win it.
They had trailed to Maxwel Cornet’s first-half effort, but grew into the game after Guardiola changed his tactical plan.
Twenty-five yards from goal, Cornet spotted that Ederson had advanced to the edge of his box and produced a wonderful curling finish.
It isn’t as though City weren’t aware of Cornet’s quality – the young Ivorian scored three goals in two group games against them last season
City, however, had looked like they would steamroller the French underdogs in the closing stages after Kevin De Bruyne had fired home a brilliant 69th-minute equaliser.
But Dembele got a huge break to put Lyon back in front 11 minutes from time.
He appeared to trip Aymeric Laporte before bursting clear and sending a shot into the net off keeper Ederson.
Lyon had been unhappy with the appointment of Dutch referee Danny Makkelle – but the goal was allowed to stand.
Then came a moment that will live with City fans forever. Raheem Sterling sent a close-range effort over the bar when he should have scored to make it 2-2.
And seconds later, Dembele sealed the deal by shooting home after Ederson had spilled Houssem Aouar’s weak shot.
Lyon now face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Guardiola must now address another
Champions League failure – and the Catalan must shoulder most of the blame.
The City boss has often been accused of overthinking the occasion in the latter stages of the Champions League.
So it should have come as no surprise when he threw another curve ball by putting his faith in a line-up he had never picked before.
Teenage defender Eric Garcia started – despite telling the club last week that he won’t be signing a new contract because he wants to go back to Barcelona.
It seemed Guardiola was taking no
chances on City being countered by the pace of Memphis Depay.
City have never gone beyond the last four – and Guardiola has failed to take them beyond the quarter-finals in four attempts.
It was clear their spark was missing and both teams made a cagey start. Then, after 24 minutes, Fernando Marcal’s long ball showed why Guardiola was right to be concerned about Lyon’s speed on the break and Cornet scored the opener.
Guardiola made a change 10 minutes after the break, Riyad Mahrez replacing
Fernandinho, and De Bruyne gave them hope with a cool leveller.
City looked like going on to book their place in the last four from there but Dembele had other ideas and for Guardiola and City the elusive quest for the Champions League goes on.