Dynamo Kiev vs Manchester City. UEFA Champions League First Knockout Round.
Kiev Olympic StadiumAttendance53,691.
Thursday 25 February 2016 06:42, UK
Manchester City put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 3-1 win at Dynamo Kiev in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
The Premier League side produced a masterful away display in the first half and deservedly led 2-0 at the break through Sergio Aguero and David Silva.
Vitali Buyalsky pulled a goal back for the hosts in the second half but Yaya Toure scored a brilliant late third for City, minutes after heading wide from a few yards out.
The strike ensures City take a commanding lead into the return leg at the Etihad on March 16 and will be strong favourites to reach the last eight for the first time in their history.
Manuel Pellegrini will also feel vindicated in his decision to rest almost all of his first-team players for the FA Cup defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.
Only Fernando kept his place in the starting XI from the youthful side fielded at Stamford Bridge as Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Toure and Aguero all returned.
Andriy Yarmolenko was passed fit to start for the hosts, who had not played a competitive match for almost three months due to their winter break.
Still, they started brightly as Yarmolenko forced Hart to tip a shot over the bar from a tight angle and Lukasz Teodorczyk shot wide of the post after stealing possession.
But it was City who made the breakthrough after 15 minutes as Toure headed down Silva's corner for Aguero and he took a touch towards goal before firing home on the volley.
City seemed to grow in confidence after taking the lead and Aguero went close to doubling the advantage when he shot across goal from Silva's pass.
As the visitors took control of the contest, with Fernando pressing brilliantly in midfield and Nicolas Otamendi looking assured at the centre of defence alongside Kompany, Kiev boss Sergei Rebrov made a change after half an hour in a bid to shake things up.
But City continued to dominate and, after Toure saw a low shot saved, they deservedly doubled their lead.
Aguero held up a long ball and laid it off for Raheem Sterling, who burst towards the byline and then cut across the box for Silva to finish at the far post.
It could have been even better for City at half-time had Aguero not again shot across goal after being played in by Fernando.
Perhaps sensing they needed a goal to keep the tie alive, Kiev improved at the start of the second half and saw Yarmolenko flash an effort just wide.
They gave themselves a lifeline after 58 minutes as Buyalsky hit a volley that deflected off Otamendi, wrong-footed Hart and flew into the net.
It looked as though the goal might inspire Kiev to get another as they threatened on the counter attack and Hart made a fantastic save to deny Buyalsky.
But City held firm and finished the game stronger. Kiev keeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy saved sharply from a deflected clearance before Toure should have made it 3-1 when he headed wide from inside the six-yard box under no pressure.
The Ivorian made amends in the final minute, collecting a lay-off from Fernandinho and then curling a brilliant left-footed effort into the far corner to cap off a fine night for City.
