Ten-man Manchester City came from a goal down twice to register a 3-2 win over Schalke 04 in the Champions League first leg last 16 tie on Wednesday night.
Sergio Aguero powered the visitors ahead early in the game before Nabil Bentaleb restored parity from the penalty kick. He then again gave the hosts the lead, by once again netting another penalty. Nicolas Otamendi was sent off in the 68th minute and the Germany side looked destined for a win. However, Leroy Sane scored a wonderful freekick to level the scores before Raheem Sterling grabbed the winner in the stoppage time.Â
City meant business from the kickoff, dominating in the early exchanges as Aguero looked to bring down a lovely ball from the midfield, just inside the box on his chest. However Sane got across to take the ball off his toe before he can shoot and it was booted away.
Aguero goal
Guardiola’s men took the lead but it was a real mess from Schalke. Uth went down under a heavy challenge from Laporte when he won a header against him from Schalke’s goal kick. Both sides played on and Caligiuri cut it out when City played it forward. He passed back to Fahrmann, whose sloppy, lazy pass to Sane didn't even reach him before Silva nipped in and took it off him to go clean through. He squared for Aguero who slotted into the empty net and City had one of their easiest goal of the season.
VAR review
Referee Carlos del Carro went to VAR to see if that challenge from Laporte should rule it out and the goal was given. The challenge looked a bit clumsy but not stonewall foul.
Penalty
Caligiuri cut inside before shooting from the edge of the area, and his shot canned behind off Otamend, seemingly with his arm. The replay showed he tried to move his arm out the way although it did strike it and VAR was called into action. The centre referee gave the penalty and Bentaleb made no mistake from the stop kick, sending the ball into the right-hand side of the net.
Bentaleb brace
Just before half time, the hosts were awarded another penalty and Bentaleb did it again. Ederson went the right way and got a hand to his penalty but the former Tottenham man’s spot-kick was high to his right and he could only help it on its way into the top corner.
Sane’s leveler
Things got worse for the hosts as Sane leveled the score for the ten-man City out of nowhere. Sterling was brought down 25 yards out and Sane, back at his home club, stepped up to blast the ball into the far corner beyond Fahrmann’s despairing dive. A massive goal for Mancity.
Sterling goal
Ederson looked long over the top down the right, where Sterling beat OCzika as the pair tussled for the all, leaving the Schalke man on his backside. He raced into the box and from a tight angle still had a lot to do, but Fahrmann made things easier for him leaving his far post exposed and the England international needed no second invitation to slot the corner.
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