UEFA Champions League
Manchester City Qualify With 2-2 Draw Against Lyon
Manchester City progressed to the Champions League last 16 after Sergio Aguero scored a late equalizer in the 2-2 draw against Lyon.
Sergio Aguero was once again the man to rescue Manchester City. He scored the late equalizer that ensured City go through to the round of 16 in the UCL.
It had looked like “Game. Set. Match.” for Manchester City as Maxwel Cornet scored the double. It seemed that Lyon would be in pole position heading into the final game of the group stages.
Aymeric Laporte cancelled out the winger’s 55th-minute opener. But just two minutes after Cornet’s second, City responded again – Aguero rising highest to head home from a corner and punished the hosts for some wasteful first-half finishing.
Cornet put in a blistering performance which would have surely turned a few heads from some of the European Heavyweights. He missed a close-range header in the first half. Cornet turned provider for Depay, who failed to connect and find the back of the net.
Lyon’s dominance continued, Cornet squandering another golden chance when he sliced over from six yards with the goal gaping before hitting the crossbar with a spectacular volley.
Cornet finally found the back of the net in the 55th minute. Curling an absolute beauty into the top left corner from the edge of the box.
Lyon’s lead was short-lived, the impressive Laporte on hand to head home from David Silva’s flick seven minutes later. Cornet then finished low under Ederson to put the hosts back ahead nine minutes from time.
But it was Aguero who had the final say as he directed a wonderful header into the bottom -left corner to secure a share of the spoils.
Thanks to Shakhtar Donetsk scoring a late winner against Hoffenheim, Lyon’s battling performance did not prove enough to secure progression just yet, with a draw still required from their final group fixture in Ukraine next month.
City next faces Bournemouth on Saturday in the Premier League, while Lyon faces a trip to out-of-form Lille in Ligue.
Photo credit to Donald Trump via Flickr
