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Champions League: Man City through as group winners

MAN CITY 4

B M'GLADBACH 2

Raheem Sterling celebrated his 21st birthday with a quickfire double to send Manchester City through to the Champions League last 16 as group winners.

The England international struck twice in the space of two minutes as City came from behind to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday (Dec 8).

City had trailed after the Germans replied to David Silva's early strike through Julian Korb and Raffael but Sterling turned the game around late in the second half and Wilfried Bony added the final gloss.

With Juventus losing at Sevilla, the result was enough for City to leapfrog the Italians to the top of Group D while Monchengladbach slipped to the bottom and missed out on a Europa League spot.

But it was the 3,000 Monchengladbach fans who made most of the noise and their side gave City an early scare as Korb broke clear.

Sterling had a harsh introduction as he was caught in the chest by the boot of Havard Nordtveit but was soon back on his feet and linking nicely with Kevin De Bruyne and Silva in a fluid attacking trio.

City started without an out-and-out centre forward having left Bony on the bench and with Sergio Aguero still injured, but it initially looked like it would not matter.

The arrangement paid off in the 16th minute as Sterling played Silva in on goal with a nifty backheel and the Spaniard took full advantage as he rifled a shot into the roof of the net.

But City's weaknesses at the back in the continued absence of captain Vincent Kompany were again evident as Monchengladbach claimed an immediate equaliser.


Moenchengladbach's Brazilian midfielder Raffael (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Moenchengladbach's US defender Fabian Johnson. PHOTO: REUTERS

Gael Clichy, making on his third appearance of the season, looked uncomfortable in the right-back slot.

He was caught out as Fabian Johnson charged forward.

Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi were slow to respond and Johnson's low ball across the box was rifled home by Korb.

The contest was an open one with both sides showing attacking intent but both Sterling and Yaya Toure were wayward with attempts on goal.

City were cracked open again before the break as Oscar Wendt drilled in a low cross and Johnson's shot was diverted past Joe Hart by Raffael.

The Germans then began to frustrate City but the hosts upped the tempo after the break with Sterling coming to the fore.

The £49million man almost nipped in as Nico Elvedi chested the ball back to Yann Sommer but the goalkeeper just cleared.

Sterling ran across the area to tee up Silva and then shot himself but Sommer saved on both occasions. Sommer then produced a fine reflex save to deny Sterling on the volley after a Toure effort was blocked.

The pressure finally paid off 11 minutes from time as Clichy pulled the ball back from the byline and unmarked Sterling turned in from close range.

A quick counter-attack a minute later led to another two minutes later as Sterling brilliantly swept home a pass from substitute Bony.

Monchengladbach were beaten and Bony finished the job five minutes from time with a close-range finish after his initial effort was blocked.

Source: PA Sports

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