Manchester City were given a stern test by French outfit Lyon before ultimately securing their passage to the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Cherki Stunner Stuns Home Crowd
The Premier League champions found themselves chasing the game after Lyon's highly-rated youngster Rayan Cherki broke the deadlock with a spectacular first-half strike. The 19-year-old Frenchman unleashed a powerful effort from distance that left City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega with no chance, silencing the home supporters.
Pep Guardiola's side struggled to break down a disciplined Lyon defence throughout the first period, with the Ligue 1 visitors looking dangerous on the counter-attack and threatening to cause a major upset.
Haaland Levels Before Foden Seals It
The momentum shifted dramatically after the interval as City emerged with renewed purpose. The equaliser arrived through Erling Haaland, who demonstrated his predatory instincts by converting from close range after good work from Julian Alvarez.
With the game finely poised, it was Phil Foden who proved to be the match-winner, producing a moment of individual brilliance to curl a superb effort into the top corner and complete the turnaround for the English giants.
Guardiola's Reaction
Speaking after the match, Pep Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter: "Lyon made it very tough for us tonight. They're a quality side with excellent young players, and Cherki's goal was exceptional. I'm pleased with how we responded in the second half - the character we showed was important."
The City manager also praised his match-winner: "Phil's quality in the final third is exceptional. When we need something special, he often delivers."
The victory keeps Manchester City on course to defend the Carabao Cup they won last season, though this performance served as a reminder that no opponent can be taken lightly in cup competitions.
