Foden is the third youngest Englishman to have scored a goal in a Champions League quarter-final behind Alan Smith and Theo Walcott
Phil Foden’s last goal gave Manchester City a decisive advantage in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad Stadium.
The city’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals seemed balanced when Marco Reus gave Dortmund a priceless away goal with a cool finish from Erling Haaland’s pass six minutes from time.
Kevin de Bruyne, who had given City the lead after 19 minutes with a crisp finish, played his role again in the last minute of regular time when Ilkay Gundogan touched his fine cross for Foden to score a finish after Marwin Hitz.
It was a heavy blow to an enterprising Dortmund man who will bring a burning sense of injustice towards Manchester towards Romanian official Ovidiu Hategan after scoring Jude Bellingham’s goal in the second half with a 1-0 lead from City controversially excluded.
Bellingham defeated Ederson on a through pass, but after it looked like the City goalkeeper had kicked the teenager, the referee blew a foul on Borussia as the English star headed for an empty net – and didn’t even allow VAR to intervene, who would certainly have scored a goal.
City, whose penalty was voided by VAR in the first half, showed commendable strength of character and great determination to react to the blow from Reus’ goal to score the winner and are now in pole position ahead of the second leg in Germany.
Man City digs deep for victory
Haaland and Foden talked at the final whistle
The Champions League has not been particularly friendly to Manchester City in the past and it looked for at least five minutes like they were facing another difficult task in Germany after Reus equalized for Dortmund.
The city may have thought their troubles in elite European competition have returned, but they deserve great credit for receiving an instant response to regain the advantage.
This draw is by no means over, not with Haaland such a massive threat, although he was relatively calm here, but make no mistake, the picture looked much healthier for City at the final whistle than it did when Dortmund’s players celebrated wildly in an empty corner of the Etihad in the 84th minute.
And thanks also to the match winner Foden that, despite a few missed opportunities, he kept getting into the scoring position when he saw a shot saved by heat and then shot over the goal when he should have hit the target.
The joyful scenes on the pitch and among the support staff and city officials in the stands showed just how much this goal meant. Guardiola’s side would still have felt safe at 1-1, but now they have a valuable lead in protection.
De Bruyne once again exerted his massive influence and will play an important role on the return as Guardiola finally seeks to lead City to a Champions League semi-final.
Dortmund still has hope
The Borussia Dortmund players sagged in fear when Foden’s late low slipped into the farthest corner behind goalkeeper Hitz.
Once the disappointment subsides – and the anger too, as they rightly feel they have reached the hard end of a very bad decision – the Bundesliga team will still feel very strong in this quarter-finals of the Champions League to be.
They may have been fighting for form in the last few weeks, but can be very satisfied with their performance, especially since they still have a real game changer in Haaland.
The coveted 20-year-old might not have been a constant threat, but he was quick to show why he’s the most talked about young player in the game right now.
Haaland had a chance for Bellingham in the first half, showing explosive pace and strength to overtake Ruben Dias and save Ederson after the break. Then he showed great instinct to score Reus’ goal.
Where there is Haaland, there is hope for Borussia Dortmund – and Manchester City will be aware of that.
“We will go there to win” – what they said
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in conversation with BT Sport: “Better to win than a draw. We’re going there to win the game. In the first half we weren’t smart with the ball. The second half was much better.
“Dortmund are a typical club from the Champions League. We have one more game there and with the result 2-1 we will try to score the goals there to win. We will analyze what we have to do, how we do it have done.” for four or five months. Every game we play to win. “
Manchester City goalscorer Kevin de Bruyne in conversation with BT Sport: “They played really well with the ball. It causes some problems at times. I think we had a little trouble finding the chances in the first half but we created a few in the second half.”
“We should have probably scored a bit more goals but when they came back to 1-1 it was a bit of a shame, of course, but it happens. I think the response was really good so it’s good to get the win. We know it’s 2-1. ” is a tricky score, but at least we’re ahead of the game in the second leg. “
Man City scores another late, late winner – the statistics
- At 20 years and 313 days, Phil Foden is the youngest Englishman to score a winning goal in the 90th minute of a Champions League game. He overtook Wayne Rooney, who was 21 years and 182 days old, when he scored the winner for Manchester United with a 3-2 win over AC Milan in April 2007.
- Since their first season in the 2011/12 Champions League, no team has scored more goals in the 90th minute than Manchester City (17, tied with Real Madrid).
- Marcos Reus is now Borussia Dortmund’s top scorer in the Champions League with 18 goals. He was previously tied with Robert Lewandowski on the 17th.
- Reus is also the first player to score a Champions League goal against Man City since Luis Diaz for Porto in October. This ends City’s 788-minute run without conceding a goal (seven goals in a row before today).
Constellations
Man City
formation 4-2-3-1
31Ederson
2Walking aid5Stones3rdRúben Dias27Cancel
16Rodri8thGündogan
26thMahrez17thDe Bruyne47Foden
20thBernardo Silva
- 31Ederson
- 2Walking aid
- 5Stones
- 3rdRúben Dias
- 27Cancel
- 16Rodri
- 8thGündogan
- 26thMahrez
- 17thDe Bruyne
- 47Foden
- 20thBernardo SilvaReplaced byGabriel Jesusat the 59 ‘protocol
replacement
- 6thWhat
- 7thsterling
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 10omen
- 11Zinchenko
- 13thSteffen
- 14thLaporte
- 21Torres
- 22ndMendy
- 25thFernandinho
- 50Garcia
- 85Trafford
B Dortmund
formation 4-3-3
35word
2Morey16Akanji15thHummels13thwarrior
22ndBellingham23Can8thDahoud
36Knob9Haaland11Reus
- 35word
- 2MoreyReplaced byMeunierat the 81 ‘protocol
- 16Akanji
- 15thHummels
- 13thwarrior
- 22ndBellinghamBooked at 37 minutes
- 23CanBooked at 30 minutes
- 8thDahoudReplaced byDelaneyat the 81 ‘protocol
- 36KnobReplaced byTo attemptat the 63 ‘protocol
- 9Haaland
- 11Reus
replacement
- 1Bürki
- 6thDelaney
- 10T danger
- 14thSchulz
- 19thBrandt
- 20thCarvalho
- 24Meunier
- 26thPiszczek
- 27Tigges
- 30thPass varnish
- 32To attempt
- 40Drljaca
Live text
End of game, Manchester City 2, Borussia Dortmund 1.
The second half ends, Manchester City 2, Borussia Dortmund 1.
Gate! Manchester City 2, Borussia Dortmund 1. Phil Foden (Manchester City) shot with his left foot from the left side of the six-yard box into the center of the goal. Prepared by Ilkay Gündogan.
Foul by Rúben Dias (Manchester City).
Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner of Manchester City. The corner was caused by Mats Hummels.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Corner of Manchester City. The corner was caused by Raphael Guerreiro.
Gate! Manchester City 1, Borussia Dortmund 1. Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) right footed shot from the center of the box in the lower right corner. Assisted by Erling Haaland with a through pass.
Substitution for Borussia Dortmund. Thomas Meunier replaces Mateu Morey.
Substitution for Borussia Dortmund. Thomas Delaney replaces Mahmoud Dahoud.
Missed attempt. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Prepared by Riyad Mahrez.
Attempt saved. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Missed attempt. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Prepared by Phil Foden.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund).
Foul by Rodrigo (Manchester City).
Emre Can (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Prepared by Gabriel Jesus.
