Erling Haaland returned to haunt his former club with a stunning acrobatic winner as Manchester City came from behind to defeat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
In the 84th minute, Haaland, who averaged more than a goal per game in the Champions League during a two-year stint at Dortmund, met Joao Cancelo’s fine cross with a sensational backheeled volley to seal the hosts’ victory.
City appeared to be heading for a shock defeat after Jude Bellingham nodded Dortmund ahead after the break, only for John Stones’ long-range effort to beat Alexander Meyer and equalize.
After being kept quiet for the majority of the game by Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule, the indomitable Haaland came through in spectacular fashion late on to ensure City maintained their perfect start to their Champions League campaign.
Sule’s excellent defensive header denied Haaland a tap-in as City failed to capitalize on their early dominance, with the visitors preventing their hosts from registering a shot on target before the break.
As Dortmund grew in confidence, Marco Reus almost bent an effort into the top-right corner, and the winger provided the assist for their 56th-minute opener, volleying in a cross for Bellingham to guide a header past Ederson.
Following a rare defensive lapse by Dortmund, Haaland hit the foot of the post with a right-footed shot, and Kevin De Bruyne failed to reach Cancelo’s cross as City looked doomed.
Stones leveled the game with 10 minutes left, his well-hit 20-yard strike whistling past Meyer, who will likely think he could have done more to stop the effort.
The goal appeared to give City new life, forcing Dortmund to retreat into their own half in order to salvage a point.
With time running out, Haaland produced a magnificent volleyed finish to break the hearts of his former club, ensuring City maintained their lead in Group G.
What does it imply? City is kept on track by a new hero.
Since his arrival in England, defenses have been helpless to stop Haaland, who has scored 12 goals for City ahead of Wednesday’s game. Dortmund’s tenacious defense came close to defying the trend, but the striker found a way.
Haaland, who is 22 years and 55 days old, is the youngest player in Champions League history to score for and against the same team, and he is only the second player to do so against Dortmund after Ciro Immobile.
Meanwhile, City is unbeaten in their last 21 home Champions League games (W19 D2), the longest such streak by an English team since Chelsea also went unbeaten for 21 games between September 2006 and December 2009.
It’s too late for Clinical City.
Surprisingly, City’s goals came from their first two shots on goal in the game, in the 80th and 84th minutes.
While Haaland will be remembered for his late acrobatics, Stones’ leveller drew City into a game they had struggled to create. The defender has 18 goals for club and country, but this was his first from outside the penalty box.
When England returns, the young lion roars.
Bellingham has been the subject of constant transfer speculation since joining Dortmund from Birmingham City, and despite Wednesday’s defeat, the midfielder’s performance against elite opponents is sure to garner even more attention.
The Dortmund player now has four Champions League goals, the most by an English teenager. Bellingham has also appeared in 18 games in the competition, a new high for English players under the age of 20.
Facts about Opta:
- Manchester City has won 19 of their last 21 UEFA Champions League home games, drawing two. It is the longest such unbeaten run by an English team in the competition since Chelsea went unbeaten for 21 games between September 2006 and December 2009.
- Borussia Dortmund have lost their last eight UEFA Champions League matches against English clubs, with the last three coming against Manchester City.
- City have won their last eight UEFA Champions League home games against German teams by an aggregate score of 32-10. The last German team to win at the Etihad Stadium in the competition was Bayern Munich in October 2013 (3-1) under current Man City manager Pep Guardiola.
- Pep Guardiola won his 150th UEFA Champions League match, his 95th overall. Only Sir Alex Ferguson (102) and Carlo Ancelotti have won more games in the competition’s history (100).
What comes next?
On Saturday, City travel to Wolves in the Premier League, while Dortmund host Revierderby rivals Schalke in the Bundesliga.