UCL: Fernandinho earns Man City draw against PSG

Andy Hampson 02:37 07/04/2016
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  • City hero: Fernandinho.

    Fernandinho hit a deflected equaliser as Manchester City snatched a valuable draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against PSG.

    City looked to be running into trouble at the Parc des Princes after casually allowing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to cancel out a Kevin De Bruyne strike and falling behind to an Adrien Rabiot tap-in. But after Ibrahimovic continued to atone for an early penalty miss by heading against the bar, Fernandinho took advantage of some poor PSG defending to net a vital second away goal.

    It took just 12 seconds for the game’s first flashpoint as David Luiz pulled back Sergio Aguero to earn a booking that rules him out of the second leg. It was a bright start by City and Aguero also shot over before Jesus Navas whipped in a fine cross which David Silva headed wide.

    But PSG also looked dangerous and Eliaquim Mangala, who said on the eve of the game he was not scared of the hosts’ formidable front line, was soon in the thick of the action.

    The Frenchman had to cut out an early pass meant for Ibrahimovic and then survived a major penalty scare as Blaise Matuidi tumbled in the area after contact. Referee Milorad Mazic was unmoved on that occasion but it was different after 12 minutes as Luiz controlled the ball and then fell over a tackle from Bacary Sagna.

    Ibrahimovic stepped up but Joe Hart fully justified his selection after being rushed back from a calf injury by saving to his right.

    After riding that storm, City snatched the lead as Fernando seized on a stray pass by Luiz and released Fernandinho. De Bruyne timed his run into the box perfectly and finished expertly after being found by a well-weighted pass.

    That put City into a position of strength but it proved fleeting as they conspired to undo a lot of their good work just three minutes later.

    Fernando was too casual as he received a Hart pass on the edge of his own box and Ibrahimovic pounced on the Brazilian’s poor touch to equalise.

    Matuidi passed up an opportunity to put PSG ahead before receiving a yellow card which will also see him miss the return game.

    PSG began to turn up the heat and grabbed the lead on the hour as Rabiot followed up Hart’s save from an Edinson Cavani header to score at the far post – and moments later as Ibrahimovic rattled the bar with a header.

    It looked like City might have a long final half hour to hold on – but they managed to level the tie by forcing a PSG error.

    Sagna found space down the right and Serge Aurier and Thiago Silva got into a mess trying to clear his cross. Fernandinho took advantage as he fired home, via a big deflection.

    That took the sting out of the hosts and City saw out the game to give themselves the edge heading into next Tuesday’s return.

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