Eric Dier converted a dramatic 90th-minute penalty to earn Monaco a 2-2 draw against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, cancelling out an Erling Haaland brace that had appeared to secure victory for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Haaland struck twice in the first half, either side of a stunning Jordan Teze equaliser, taking his tally to 11 goals in eight games across all competitions this season. The Norwegian now has 52 goals in 50 Champions League appearances, continuing his remarkable scoring record in Europe.
City, the reigning European champions, seemed on course for a second straight win in the group stage following their 2-0 victory over Napoli. But a controversial late decision swung the match.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano awarded Monaco a penalty after a lengthy VAR review determined that Nico Gonzalez committed a high-boot foul on Dier during a set piece. Dier stepped up and calmly sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way to secure a valuable first point for the Ligue 1 side.
Haaland, fresh off a late brace in City’s 5-1 Premier League win over Burnley at the weekend, opened the scoring 15 minutes in. Defender Josko Gvardiol lofted a precise ball over the Monaco defence, and Haaland timed his run to perfection, lifting a delicate lob over goalkeeper Philipp Köhn.
Monaco, facing their first real test in the group, responded with a thunderbolt. In the 18th minute, Krepin Diatta cut the ball back to the edge of the area, where Teze — unmarked — took a touch and unleashed a fierce right-footed strike into the top corner, leaving Donnarumma with no chance.
Despite Monaco’s moment of brilliance, City continued to dominate. Just before halftime, they regained the lead as Haaland met a precise Nico O’Reilly cross with a powerful header to make it 2-1.
Guardiola’s men looked comfortable for much of the second half, with Monaco’s youthful midfield — missing the experienced Paul Pogba, who watched from the stands as he continues to recover fitness — struggling to maintain control.
The game’s intensity rose in the final stages, and Monaco’s persistence was rewarded when Dier went down under Gonzalez’s high foot inside the box. After a prolonged VAR delay, the spot-kick was given, and Dier made no mistake.
The result leaves City on four points from two games, while Monaco open their account with a hard-fought draw.
This was the first meeting between the sides since their thrilling 6-6 aggregate battle in the 2016–17 Champions League last 16, when Monaco advanced on away goals — a tie that featured a young Kylian Mbappé and current City captain Bernardo Silva, who wore the armband once again in his return to the Stade Louis II.
AFP
