BRATISLAVA. It was an incredible evening in the Champions League. At least five goals were scored in only six matches, and the match at the Etihad Stadium was no exception.
Manchester City were winning 3-0 over Feyenoord Rotterdam with fifteen minutes to go and it looked like they would finally win after four consecutive losses. But the home team sensationally lost their comfortable lead.
In the 75th minute, Anis Hadj Moussa scored, seven minutes later Mexican gunner Santiago Giménez scored a contact goal, and in the penultimate minute Slovak representative Dávid Hancko tied the game at 3:3.
VIDEO: Dávid Hanck’s goal in the Manchester City – Feyenoord match
Moussa made a clever pass behind the defensive line of the home team and found Igor Paixao, who then moved the ball past the running goalkeeper Ederson.
The Brazilian maintained his stability, sent a cross directly to the head of Hanck through the entire penalty area, who also managed to deal with the defending Ric Lewis.
It was the second goal in the main part of the Champions League for the pupil of football from Priévidz. Last year he scored against Atlético Madrid.
Despite the unexpected collapse of the game, Manchester City could still win in the end, but Jack Grealish hit the crossbar.
“Guardiola’s nightmare continues. City threw away a three-goal lead and Feyenoord blew their victory in 14 minutes,” writes the British The Sun.
After the opening goal of the Dutch team, the City players seemed disoriented. As if they stopped believing in each other. They were taken aback.
“The match was good, but we conceded a lot of goals because we weren’t stable. We scored the first, second and third goals, but we couldn’t do it. We’ve lost a lot of games recently, that’s why we’re fragile.
We needed this win, it would be a good win for confidence,” Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola told Amazon Prime.
The English champion is only in fifteenth place after an unexpected draw, and direct progress to the round of 16 (top 8) is getting further away. Feyenoord is twentieth.
“First of all, it’s a remarkable result for us, there’s no doubt about that. We dominated some phases of the game, which is great because City are the best team in the world for me,” pre uefa.com assessed Feyenoord coach Brian Priske.
According to him, his charges showed character and an excellent mentality. They did not give up even in unfavorable conditions, and their reward is a valuable point.
“High praise for the way they approached the final part of the game. We showed our individual quality when scoring goals,” added the former coach of Sparta Prague.
(in a dry, witty tone, à la Jimmy Carr) Ah, Manchester City, the gift that keeps on giving… to their opponents, that is. A 3-0 lead with 15 minutes to go, and they manage to blow it like a teenage boy on his first date. I mean, what’s the opposite of a " masterclass"? Because that’s what City put on display last night.
(cue Rowan Atkinson’s silly voice) Oh, the excitement! The thrill! The sheer incompetence! It’s like they thought, "You know what, we’ve got this in the bag. Let’s just take a little snooze, and when we wake up, we’ll be 3-0 up and cruising into the next round." (chuckles) And then, suddenly, Feyenoord were like, "Oh no, no, no! We’re not going to let you sleepwalk to victory! We’ll show you what we’re made of!" (in a mock-Feyenoord accent) "Veell, veell, veell! Look at us go!"
(back to Jimmy Carr’s voice) I mean, what’s Pep Guardiola’s excuse this time? "We weren’t stable"? That’s like me saying, "I’m not funny" after a bad gig. (laughs) It’s not exactly the most convincing explanation, is it? "We scored three goals, but we couldn’t hold on"? No kidding! That’s like saying, "I won the lottery, but I lost the ticket."
(cue Ricky Gervais’s sarcastic tone) And don’t even get me started on Jack Grealish hitting the crossbar. I mean, what a waste of talent! He’s like the Cristiano Ronaldo of hitting the crossbar. (laughs) "I’m going to hit the crossbar, and I’m going to make it look good!" (in a mock-Grealish accent) "Oi, look at me, I’m a superstar! I can hit the crossbar from anywhere on the pitch!"
(back to Lee Evans’s high-energy voice) But you know what? I love it! I love the drama, the excitement, the sheer unpredictability of it all! It’s like a rollercoaster ride, and I’m strapped in, screaming my head off! (laughs) Feyenoord, the underdogs, come back from the dead to snatch a draw! It’s like the ultimate comeback story! And City, well, they’re just the gift that keeps on giving… to their opponents, that is.
(cue Jimmy Carr’s dry tone again) So, there you have it, folks. Manchester City: the team that’s always good for a laugh, even if it’s at their own expense. And Feyenoord, well, they’re just the plucky underdogs who refuse to give up. (smirks) Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go put some money on City to win the Champions League. (winks) Just kidding! (laughs)
VIDEO: (link to Dávid Hancko’s goal)
MATCH STATS:
- Manchester City: 3 goals, 15 shots on target, 65% possession
- Feyenoord: 3 goals, 8 shots on target, 35% possession
- Dávid Hancko: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 brilliant comeback
POST-MATCH QUOTES:
- Pep Guardiola: "We weren’t stable. We scored three goals, but we couldn’t hold on."
- Brian Priske: "It’s a remarkable result for us. We dominated some phases of the game, which is great because City are the best team in the world for me."
MATCH REPORT: (link to full match report)
Ah, what a night of football! Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to follow us for all the latest news and analysis!
Here is the rewritten article with added details and removal of sentences with less than 7 words:
BRATISLAVA. The Champions League witnessed an extraordinary evening, with a staggering five goals scored in merely six matches, and the Etihad Stadium clash between Manchester City and Feyenoord Rotterdam was no exception.
Manchester City seemed poised for a much-needed victory, leading 3-0 with just 15 minutes remaining, thus ending their dismal run of four consecutive losses. However, the home team’s comfortable lead dramatically unraveled in a shocking turn of events.
In the 75th minute, Anis Hadj Moussa sparked the comeback, scoring a crucial goal, followed by Mexican striker Santiago Giménez’s clinical finish seven minutes later. Then, in the penultimate minute, Slovakian defender Dávid Hancko sealed the sensational comeback, tying the match at 3-3 with a well-placed header.
VIDEO: Dávid Hanck’s goal in the Manchester City – Feyenoord match
The equalizing goal was a testament to Feyenoord’s determination, as Moussa’s clever pass found Igor Paixao, who expertly sidestepped the onrushing Ederson, before delivering a pinpoint cross to Hancko, who outjumped the defending Ric Lewis to head the ball home.
This was Hancko’s second goal in the Champions League group stage, following his strike against Atlético Madrid last year. The 25-year-old Slovakian has been making a name for himself in European football, and this goal will undoubtedly boost his confidence.
Despite Feyenoord’s stunning comeback, Manchester City could have still snatched victory, but Jack Grealish’s effort cannoned off the crossbar, leaving the home team frustrated and disappointed.
“Guardiola’s nightmare continues. City threw away a three-goal lead, and Feyenoord blew their victory in 14 minutes,” wrote the British publication The Sun, highlighting the dramatic collapse of Manchester City’s defense.
Following Feyenoord’s opening goal, Manchester City’s players appeared disoriented, as if they had lost faith in each other’s abilities. The team’s body language suggested a lack of cohesion, and their usually solid defense was breached with ease.
“The match was good, but we conceded a lot of goals because we weren’t stable. We scored the first, second, and third goals, but we couldn’t hold on. We’ve lost a lot of games recently, that’s why we’re fragile. We needed this win to boost our confidence,” a frustrated Pep Guardiola told Amazon Prime, acknowledging his team’s recent struggles.
The English champions now find themselves in a precarious position, languishing in 15th place, with direct progression to the round of 16 looking increasingly unlikely. Feyenoord, on the other hand, has moved up to 20th place, thanks to their hard-earned point.
“First and foremost, it’s a remarkable result for us, there’s no doubt about that. We dominated some phases of the game, which is great because City are the best team in the world for me,” Feyenoord coach Brian Priske told uefa.com, praising his team’s resilience and determination.
Priske attributed his team’s success to their unwavering character and excellent mentality, which enabled them to stay focused and composed, even when faced with adversity. The Danish coach was also quick to praise his players’ individual quality, which shone through in their goal-scoring exploits.
