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Champions League: Haaland on target as Manchester City ease past Bayern to reach semi-finals

InternationalFootballChampions League: Haaland on target as Manchester City ease past Bayern to reach semi-finals

Munich: Manchester City are through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the third season running after a 1-1 draw in Munich completed a 4-1 aggregate triumph against Bayern.

Looking to become only the fifth team in Champions League history to overturn a first-leg deficit of three goals or more, Bayern immediately took the game to City. It was not until the 17th minute that they carved out a clear opening, however, Leroy Sané racing in behind only to dink wide with just Ederson to beat.

City were in the unusual position of ceding possession, but their patience looked to have paid off when Dayot Upamecano was adjudged to have handled inside the penalty area. Erling Haaland – he of 47 club goals this season, no less – stepped up, but blazed over.

Though Kingsley Coman and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also threatened as half-time loomed, City stood firm. They might have pulled further clear early in the second half had Haaland applied a more emphatic finishing touch to a smooth counterattack from his side.

Bayern weren’t “surfing the momentum” as Thomas Tuchel had hoped, but they were still in this. Or so they thought. Just 16 seconds after Coman had flashed across goal, Kevin De Bruyne slotted to Haaland, who danced past Upamecano before stroking the ball beyond Yann Sommer.

Bayern continued to pour forward and did eventually pull one back when Joshua Kimmich slotted his spot kick down the middle after Manuel Akanji had been penalised for handball, but time was up.

Courtesy: UEFA Champions League 

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