Manchester City were left ruing missed chances and a controversial late penalty as AS Monaco clawed back a 2–2 draw in a pulsating Champions League clash at the Stade Louis II. Erling Haaland’s first-half brace looked set to secure all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side, but Eric Dier’s 90th-minute spot-kick stunned the visitors and earned Monaco their first point of the campaign
⚽ Haaland Hits 52 in 50, But City Falter Late
Haaland opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a trademark run behind the defense, latching onto Josko Gvardiol’s lofted pass and delicately lobbing over Monaco keeper Philipp Köhn. The Norwegian doubled his tally just before halftime, rising to meet Nico O’Reilly’s cross and powering a header into the bottom corner. That goal marked his 52nd in just 50 Champions League appearances—a staggering record that outpaces entire clubs in their first 50 matches in the competition.
But City’s dominance didn’t translate into a win. Despite hitting the woodwork twice through Phil Foden and Tijjani Reijnders, they failed to kill off the game. Monaco, missing several midfielders and relying on youth, showed grit and opportunism.
Jordan Teze equalized just three minutes after Haaland’s opener with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box that left Gianluigi Donnarumma rooted. The Dutch defender’s goal injected belief into Adi Hütter’s side, who grew into the game despite City’s territorial control.
🧨 VAR Drama and Dier’s Ice-Cold Finish
The match’s defining moment came in the 90th minute. As Monaco floated in a free-kick, Nico González raised his boot high in a challenge with Dier. Though he got the ball first, replays showed contact with Dier’s face. After a lengthy VAR review and heated touchline exchanges—including two red cards for City staff—the referee pointed to the spot
Dier, calm under pressure, sent Donnarumma the wrong way to snatch a draw. It was a moment of redemption for the former Spurs man, who’s quietly become a stabilizing force in Monaco’s backline.
🎙️ Reactions: Frustration and Pride
Haaland didn’t mince words post-match: “We don’t deserve to win. We need more energy. It’s not good enough”. Guardiola, meanwhile, questioned the penalty decision but acknowledged his side’s wastefulness: “We created a lot of chances… but we didn’t finish them”.
Monaco boss Adi Hütter praised his depleted squad’s heart: “We have six or seven top-level players out injured, but we never gave up. I’m proud of that. We deserved the draw”.
📊 Tactical Takeaways
City’s xG: 1.37 from 19 shots
Monaco’s xG: 1.44 from just 8 attempts
Possession: City dominated, but Monaco were more clinical when it mattered.
City remain unbeaten with four points from two matches, while Monaco finally get off the mark after their opening defeat to Club Brugge. Next up: City travel to Villarreal, and Monaco host Tottenham.
Comments
Post a Comment