MAN CITY 5, AS MONACO 3
Manchester City produced a truly remarkable last half-hour fightback to record a dramatic Champions League victory against AS Monaco at the Etihad.
In a last-16 game of astonishing twists and turns, City somehow established a two-goal advantage to take to the French principality for the return.
Monaco must have thought they had a foot in the quarter finals early in the second half when Radamel Falcao had a penalty to make it 3-1.
Goalkeeper Willy Caballero made the save – his sixth out of eight spot kicks faced at City – and it turned out to be a pivotal moment in the match.
Though Monaco, pegged back to 2-2, regained the lead just after the hour, City were still very much alive.
But in a remarkable finale, Sergio Aguero, John Stones and Leroy Sane all found the net to complete a comeback of epic proportions in what was the highest-ever scoring match in the knockout phase of the Champions League.
City manager Pep Guardiola believes his players will become stronger for the way they overcame adversity.
He explained: “I am so happy with the result – we are still alive – especially the performance of the guys and for most it is their first experience of the Champions League. And in the future it will hopefully help the club achieve another step.
“Monaco have more history in the Champions League, but the way my players overcame trouble will help them to become better players.
“And it is a huge compliment to my players they never gave up and we are still alive.”
Guardiola added that when two teams were hell bent on attacking it produced a “marvellous game”.
“It was a special game, there’s no denying it. We attacked well which was not easy as they are very well organised,” he said.
And of the way in which fortunes ebbed and flowed, he said: “We had some moments when we were lucky, especially in the second half, but we were unlucky in the first.”
Guardiola believes his side will have to score in Monaco to reach the last eight, even though they hold a two-goal lead.
“If we don’t score, we will be eliminated,” he said.
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim explained it was important to put on a good show and described the game as a “great spectacle”.
He said: “It was an exciting game, and great for the supporters, and everyone will be happy to have witnessed such a special game.
“Monaco played a great game and I congratulated my players.
“We made a couple of errors in defence and probably the key was when we had the penalty to go 3-1 up and then City came back to make it 2-2.
“We worked hard to put on a show as we are passionate about football. To score three goals away from home at Manchester City made it a great spectacle.
“We have 90 minutes at home and it is far from over. But everyone will go home, and those watching at home, have seen a great game.”
Monaco, the French league leaders, exuded confidence from the kick off, hardly surprising bearing in mind they had already beaten Tottenham home and away in the Champions League.
Teenage wonder kid Kylian Mbappe made a wonderful early run only to be belatedly dispossessed on the edge of the box.
Falcao did likewise only for Nicolas Otamendi to check his progress as he was about to take aim.
Benjamin Mendy also had a shot spilled by keeper Caballero causing a goalmouth scramble as it was certainly a nervy start for City.
They eventually gained a toehold in the game as Aguero failed by inches to convert a Kevin De Bruyne cross in front of goal.
City made the breakthrough in the 26th minute as Leroy Sane and David Silva exchanged passes as Sane squared the ball for Sterling to convert from six yards, though replays suggested he was marginally offside as he netted his ninth goal of the campaign.
Monaco were level six minutes later as City were architects of their own downfall as the goal stemmed from a dreadful clearance by Caballero that was intercepted.
City failed to clear the danger and Fabinho delivered a delightful cross for Falcao to convert with a far post diving header.
The Colombian striker, who struggled to hit a barn door in his spell at Manchester United, netted for the 22nd time this season.
There was further controversy after 35 minutes when Aguero burst through on goal only to be scythed down by keeper Danijel Subasic for what looked a stone-wall penalty in everybody’s eyes but Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz who booked the Argentine striker for diving.
It was an incredulous decision and one that had Guardiola enter the field of play to remonstrate with the match officials.
And it got a whole lot worse for City as Monaco added insult to injury by taking the lead five minutes before the break.
Yaya Toure was booked for a foul and City were caught out from the free kick as a ball over their defence released Mbappe who raced clear and rifled a shot into the roof of the net.
And the controversy did not end after the restart when Monaco won a spot kick when Falcao was adjudged to have been shoved off the ball in front of goal by Otamendi as he went to convert a cross from Mendy.
Falcao had the chance to make it 3-1 and say good night City only for Caballero to save the spot kick diving low to his left.
City made Monaco pay for that miss as they drew level in the 58th minute. Sterling intercepted a stray pass before releasing Aguero whose shot squirmed through keeper Subasic, a terrible blunder.
Monaco were undeterred and within three minute were back ahead after a long through ball released Falcao who turned Stones leaving the defender on his backside before chipping Caballero.
It was Falcao’s second goal in little over an hour, delicious irony as he only scored twice in 15 games at Old Trafford.
Had it not been for the penalty miss, it would have been his hat trick.
City had shouts for a second penalty rejected when Sterling went down, but replays showed defender Andrea Raggi got a touch to the ball.
You hardly had time to catch breath before Aguero made it 3-3 with the sweetest of volleys from Silva’s corner, his 20th goal of the season.
And Stones was villain turned hero when he put City ahead in the 77th minute. Silva’s corner was flicked on by Toure and Stone turned the ball home at the far post from four yards to wild celebrations.
Aguero then had the chance to clinch a hat trick, but Subasic made a splendid save low to his left to keep out his effort.
And City added a fifth goal in the 83rd minute when Silva released Aguero who had another chance for his treble, but he unselfishly squared the ball to Sane for the easiest of finishes for his fourth goal for City.
Monaco were denied a fourth goal in this incredible match when Caballero used his legs to keep out a shot from Falcao.