MAN CITY 3, CLUB BRUGGE 1
Manchester City are through to the Champions League knockout phase play-off by the skin of their teeth on a night when they could easily have gone up in smoke.
City, needing to win to make the top 24, beat Club Brugge but only after a nerve-jangling night at the Etihad to set up a tie against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid.
When City fell behind on the stroke of half time to a goal from Nigerian international Raphael Onyedika their hoped of progressing hung by a thread.
They were up against a Belgium team which was unbeaten in 20 matches in all competitions since last losing on October 22. They had already beaten Aston Villa to show they were no mugs and had to be treated seriously.
City needed something special to turn the tide and in the second half they found a way to score three goals.
Mateo Kovacic, a four times Champions League winner, got the ball rolling with a super solo effort, the unfortunate Joel Ordonez put through his own goal for the second and Brazilian substitute Savinho scored the clinching third.
It ensured City finished 22nd as they progressed on goal difference as they were one three clubs on 11 points to progress – Dinamo Zagreb also finished with 11 but missed out which underlined the fine line between success and failure.
There had been drama before the game with a fire outside the ground destroying a merchandise kiosk.
Guardiola, who was booked for misbehaving in the technical area, said: “When I saw the fire before the game, I thought the journalists had headlines.
“Last week we were out and, when we were out, we had nothing to lose. In the second half, we lifted our soul and our hears were free.
“We missed the spark and Savinho [who came on for the second half] helped us – he was unbelievable.”
Guardiola, who had never ever failed to get out of the group stage, was relieved to win through explaining it had been achieved with having to deal with “a thousand million problems.”
And looking ahead to play-off match, Guardiola said: “Going to Bayern Munich or Real Madrid will be really tough but it’s in two weeks and in two weeks we have a few players back, the new signings back, so hopefully we can do two good games.”
Embed from Getty ImagesKovacic said: “Every game in the Champions League is a tough one. We are through which is the most important, it was a tough group stage for us.
“Whoever comes next will be difficult, so it doesn’t matter. We conceded in the first half, but we are happy that we could score and win this game and in the end we were half.”
Kovacic also spoke about Guardiola’s half-time team talk, adding: “It was good because we came out very well. We knew we needed to step up. In the second half, we showed great character to win and go through.
“The crowd was behind us so amazing atmosphere today.
“It was important because we knew we are here to go through. We have a good team and we came back from 1-0 down. We know we are a great team.”
Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen, who managed Welsh club Haverfordwest County three years ago, said: “I am proud how we performed in the group stage.
“In the first half everyone was disciplined, and we didn’t give them many chances.
“We made mistakes in the second half and City took their chances and their victory was deserved.
“We presented ourselves well and it has been a positive experience.”
Guardiola made two changes to the side that beat Chelsea on Saturday, knowing anything but a win against Club Brugge will result in elimination.
John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne both came into the team for Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush who were ineligible to play until the knockout stages.
It was clear from kick off that Brugge would be hard to break down with two regimented banks of four close together giving City little space to play through them.
Brugge were also dangerous on the break and twice troubled City’s defence in the early stages.
It took City almost quarter of an hour before they created an opening as Phil Foden fired well wide.
Ilkay Gundogan then had the ball in the net but the effort was ruled out for a clear offside.
De Bruyne then broke clear only to blaze over when he ought to have hit the target.
City were caught on the break when Maxim De Cuyper set up Christos Tzolis whose goalbound shot stuck Manuel Akanji full in the face.
It took until the 41st minute before either goalkeeper had a shot to save when a drive from Ardon Jashari forced a diving stop from Ederson.
City were stunned when Brugge snatched the lead on the stroke of half time.
Ferran Julgla broke on the left and eluded a challenge from Matheus Nunes before squaring a pass for Onyedika to rifle home a low shot from just inside the area.
It was a disappointing opening half for City who didn’t register one goal attempt on target as their Champions League progress hung by a thread.
Desperate times called for desperate measures and Guardiola made a change at the break as Savinho replaced Gundogan.
City ought to have been level within two minutes of the restart when Stones headed wide from five yards following De Bruyne’s cross – a glaring miss as he held his head in hands in disbelief.
They finally conjured a leveller in the 53rd minute, a fine solo effort from Kovacic.
The midfielder picked up the ball on halfway and ran through unchecked before finding the net with a low drive from 20 yards.
Brugge hit back and a fierce shot from Tzolis was beaten out by Ederson.
De Bruyne had two clear-cut chances to give City the lead – the first forced keeper Simon Mignolet into a decent stop, the second hit into the ground and flying narrowly wide.
Brugge countered and Tzolis went close again on the break shooting just wide.
City went ahead in the 62nd minute through a stroke of lady luck as Josko Gvardiol crossed from the left and centre back Joel Ordonez, sliding in with an attempted clearance, could only divert the ball into his own net.
Brugge remained a threat and a fiercely struck angled shot from Tzolis was well beaten out by Ederson.
City almost sealed victory with 17 minutes left as Erling Haaland was denied by a super save from Mignolet and Savinho, following up, had his effort cleared off the line by Brandon Mechele.
The third goal came in the 77th minute when a super diagonal pass from Stones released Savinho who cut inside before shooting low past Mignolet.
City made a second change with Rico Lewis replacing De Bruyne for the final nine minutes.
Foden could have added a fourth in stoppage time with a low shot which forced a diving save from Mignolet.