Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
Manchester City has already taken a giant step into the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League after trouncing Sporting Lisbon 5-nil in a one-sided first leg yesterday.
City’s players were on a rampage as they put top-notch performances to dislodge Sporting in Lisbon on Tuesday night.
Sporting tried to get back into the game in the second half but could only pull off a little string to upturn the four goals conceded in the first half.
The visiting side broke the deadlock from an assist provided by Kevin De Bruyne in the 7th minute that led to Riyad Mahrez’s goal which dismantled the game plan of the home side who tried keeping it tightly.
Pep Guardiola’s men doubled the lead in the 17th minute from a left-footed volleyed effort from Bernardo Silva inside the 18-yard box to beat Sporting Antonio Adan at the goal-line.
15 minutes later, after the second goal, Phil Foden registered his name on the scoresheet from a close range after Sebastian Coates could not deal with Mahrez’s cross.
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Nonetheless, Bernardo Silva got his second a minute before the close of the first-half to hand City a comfortable 4-0 lead. The fourth goal was assisted by Raheem Sterling.
Accordingly, in the second half, Raheem Sterling who provided the assist to Bernardo Silva in the 44th minute to get his second scored a classic goal to seal a 5-0 away win for Manchester City at Lisbon.
The dominance of Pep Guardiola’s team over the Portuguese topflight club was clearly displayed by the humiliating scoreline.
Sporting will be looking to upturn the five-goal deficit when they visit Etihad for the second leg of the round of 16 UEFA Champions League contests with Manchester City, which may likely field their younger players, on March 9.
