BEVERLY HILLS, October 21, (THEWILL) – Manchester City opened their UEFA Champions League account for the 2020/2021 season with a 3-1 comeback win at home against Porto on Wednesday.
THEWILL recalls that City were eliminated at the quarter-final stage for the third straight year last season. Their latest campaign began with a hiccup at the Etihad Stadium.
Portuguese champions Porto, who had failed to score in their previous seven away encounters with English clubs in Europe, took just 14 first half minutes to end that goal drought.
Luis Diaz, Colombian midfielder, gained the pass on the halfway line, on the left flank and took off in an impressive solo run that saw him maintain possession of the ball over about 45 yards, evade a number of half-hearted challenges and drill a precise shot past Ederson into the far-bottom corner.
The men from the Etihad were offered a chance to draw level six minutes later. But, as the ball came back into play from Ilkay Gundogan’s shot striking the outside of the post, the Porto centre back Pepe clattered a into Raheem Sterling, barging the City winger to the ground inside the box.
After a truly lengthy VAR confirmation that there was no infringement by Gundogan on the keeper prior to the one of Pepe, the penalty was awarded. Sergio Aguero stepped up and buried it so strongly that though his fellow Argentine in goal for Porto Agustin Marchesin got a hand to it, it was insufficient to keep it out.
Colombian central midfielder Mateus Uribe fired over following a poor pass from Ederson and Kyle Walker knocked the ball off the line to save Ruben Dias’ behind as Porto went into the internal on top.
The hosts picked up slightly after the break and were ahead in the 65th minute by Gundogan’s set-piece brilliance. The Germany midfielder lifted the ball up and over the wall, away from Marchesin and into the net.
The game was out of Porto’s reach when in the 73rd minute, new boy Spanish right midfielder Ferran Torres played a one-two with fellow substitute Phil Foden and crashed past Marchesin with a looping finish.
Rodri, City’s Spanish central midfielder could have made it four for the Citizens but Marchesin was aware of the danger and pushed his 30-yarder onto the post to keep it out.
3-1 it ended in favour of the hosts Man City, though at the cost of injury to Fernandinho. The Brazilian centre back will only add to an already considerable injury list and worry for coach Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola’s men, who had 69 per cent of the ball and managed six shots on target, sit level on three points with Olympiakos, who were late 1-0 winners over Marseille – after the first set of Group C games.
City return to English Premier League action on Saturday with a trip to West Ham, while Porto host Gil Vicente in the Primeira Liga on the same day.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
