 |
| Raheem Sterling scored the opener against Sevilla |
RAHEEM STERLING came of age to inspire Manchester City to a thrilling win and a place in the Champions League knockout stages.
Sterling has been under pressure to perform since his £49million move from Liverpool in the summer. He shone in the brightest of spotlights last night with a virtuoso display as City crushed Sevilla with one of their finest performances on the European stage.
Sterling was so good that even the home fans applauded him off when he was eventually replaced by Kevin De Bruyne with less than 20 minutes remaining and the game won.
This was after he had opened the scoring, had a key role in the second goal and generally terrorised a woeful Sevilla defence with his blistering pace and supreme confidence.
Sterling had more than able support from Fernandinho, Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas as Manuel Pellegrini’s men guaranteed their passage into the next stage courtesy of Juventus’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany. Sterling, 20, broke his Champions League duck after just eight minutes to fire City ahead and write his name into the history books by becoming the club’s youngest scorer in the competition.
Pellegrini’s dream start continued when Fernandinho’s header made it 2-0 after 11 minutes.
 |
| Fernandinho made it two for City three minutes after Sterling's strike |
A shocked Sevilla pulled one back on 25 minutes thanks to Benoit Tremoulinas but Wilfried Bony, left, struck before half-time to restore the two-goal advantage and answer his critics.
Pellegrini returned to Spain knowing his record at this ground during his time managing in La Liga was not good, with seven defeats in 10 games. But all that was forgotten inside 11 mad minutes of stunning football from City.
Sterling was at the heart of everything and fired City ahead with a cool finish after Fernandinho had deceived Coke with a sublime pass. It was the perfect start but it got even better for the visitors three minutes later.
Sterling’s blistering pace left Coke for dead and he found Bony, who should have scored himself but saw his shot parried into the air only for Fernandinho to react first and nod the loose ball into an open goal.
 |
| Sterling celebrates his first Champions League goal |
A shocked Sevilla pulled one back on 25 minutes thanks to Benoit Tremoulinas but Wilfried Bony, left, struck before half-time to restore the two-goal advantage and answer his critics.
Pellegrini returned to Spain knowing his record at this ground during his time managing in La Liga was not good, with seven defeats in 10 games. But all that was forgotten inside 11 mad minutes of stunning football from City.
Sterling was at the heart of everything and fired City ahead with a cool finish after Fernandinho had deceived Coke with a sublime pass. It was the perfect start but it got even better for the visitors three minutes later.
Sterling’s blistering pace left Coke for dead and he found Bony, who should have scored himself but saw his shot parried into the air only for Fernandinho to react first and nod the loose ball into an open goal.
 |
| Wilfried Bony grabbed City's third goal of the evening |
Sevilla had won their previous 10 European games at home and Unai Emery’s men gave themselves a lifeline when Coke made amends with a blistering run and cross to the back post that was met by Tremoulinas, who made no mistake with a simple headed finish.
City took advantage of some more shambolic defending to make it 3-1 nine minutes before half-time.
Once again Navas had time and space on the right and when he picked out the unmarked Bony, even the under-fire Ivorian could not miss to leave City in total control.
Sevilla (4-2-3-1): Rico; Coke (Mariano 56), Rami, Kolodziejczak, Tremoulinas; Iborra (Krohn-Dehli 45), Krychowiak; Vitolo, Banega, Konoplyanka; Llorente (Immobile 64). Booked: Krychowiak. Goal: Tremoulinas 25.
Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho (Demichelis 90); Sterling (De Bruyne 73), Toure, Navas; Bony. Goals: Sterling 8, Fernandinho 11, Bony 36.
Referee: S Moen (Norway).
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus