SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 4 hrs 30 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
DZ
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 11, 2019 at 5.55pm UK
 
MC

1-4

Olmo (10')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Jesus (34', 50', 54'), Foden (84')

Gabriel Jesus scores hat-trick as Man City ease to win at Zagreb

:Headline: Result: Gabriel Jesus scores hat-trick as Man City ease to win at Zagreb: ID:382556: from db_amp
Phil Foden scored City's fourth.

Gabriel Jesus hit a hat-trick as Manchester City wrapped up their Champions League Group C campaign with a convincing 4-1 win at Dinamo Zagreb.

Phil Foden, making the most of a rare start, also got on the scoresheet as City responded well to Dani Olmo's stunning opener on a freezing night in Croatia.

Jesus, again deputising for the injured Sergio Aguero, levelled before the break and grabbed two more in the early stages of the second half before Foden added a late fourth at the Maksimir Stadium.

Dinamo complained about City's equaliser as two players lay injured in the build-up but they were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when Amer Gojak elbowed Rodri in the face.

The raucous home fans never gave up but Dinamo were outplayed in the second half. Defeat not only ended their hopes of reaching the knockout stages, but Atalanta's victory over Shakhtar Donetsk also cost them a Europa League place.

City made eight changes from the side beaten by Manchester United, part through necessity with John Stones and Fernandinho injured and suspended respectively, but also to rest the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.

It took time for the game to warm up and, after a quiet opening, Dinamo struck first, delighting their unrelentingly vocal supporters with a fine goal in the 10th minute.

Damian Kadzior cut inside from the right and clipped a fine ball forward over the defence. City have been bedevilled by central defensive issues all season and they were undone again as Olmo got between Nicolas Otamendi and Eric Garcia to strike with a ferocious volley.

Gabriel Jesus, front left, again led the line in the absence of Sergio Aguero (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Ilkay Gundogan had City's first serious effort when his low strike was pushed away by Dominik Livakovic after 20 minutes but they were almost caught out again when Olmo blazed over. Mislav Orsic also forced Claudio Bravo to save.

City levelled after 34 minutes, although Dinamo were far happy. Foden, making the most of a rare start, skipped past two defenders and then broke away as Petar Stojanovic and Kadzior crunched into each other attempting to hack him down.

City played on as Stojanovic lay injured and also refused to stop after Emir Dilaver came off worst in a clash with Jesus. Riyad Mahrez picked out Jesus with a fine cross to the far post and the Brazilian headed home.

Dinamo complained and there was some pushing and shoving between players but the goal stood.

Frustrations then got the better of Gojak just before half-time when he elbowed Rodri in the face. Remarkably he escaped punishment from the referee and VAR.

City upped the tempo after the break and Jesus bagged his second after 50 minutes as he jinked through the defence after playing a one-two with Foden.

Phil Foden, centre, put the seal on the win (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

His hat-trick came four minutes later as Mendy finally delivered a decent cross and he volleyed home from close range.

He might have had a fourth soon after the pair combined again but this time he headed over from Mendy's delivery.

Jesus was taken off after 66 minutes but it was not the end of the scoring as Bernardo Silva teed up Foden for a goal his performance deserved.

amp_article__382556 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-12-11 20:05:53:
html db last update - 2021-03-01 16:35:50 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .