Manchester City edge Inter 1-0 to win Champions League
Sports Desk, Jun 10 (EFE).- Rodri’s goal in the 68th minute proved to be all Manchester City needed Saturday to top Inter Milan 1-0 and win their first-ever Champions League title.
Pep Guardiola’s men also became the first English club to achieve the international treble – Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League – since cross-town rivals Manchester United in 1999.
For the 52-year-old manager, it was a second international treble, as he won LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League in 2008-2009, his first season in charge with Barcelona.
Inter, who reached the final with stubborn defending, were content to cede City the advantage on possession and hope for chances on the counter.
The Premier League side were not at their best in the early going and neither goalkeeper was tested until the 27th minute, when Andre Onana denied City’s Erling Haaland.
Two minutes later, the Nerazzurri stopper dealt with a shot from Kevin de Bruyne, who suffered a knock seconds later and left the pitch in the 35th minute, replaced by Phil Foden.
And at the end of a first half that offered little in the way of drama for the 70,000 people in stands at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium, the teams went to the dressing rooms deadlocked 0-0.
A miscommunication between Manuel Akanji and Bernardo Silva left the ball at the feet of Lautaro Martinez in the 59th, but City keeper Ederson made the stop.
Akanji redeemed himself in the 68th minute with a nifty pass to Silva, who put the ball into the middle of the area. It took a deflection off a defender’s arm and City players clamored for a hand-ball, but Rodri calmly beat Onana to make it 1-0.
Federico Dimarco had two chances to equalize in the 70th. His initial header bounced off the cross-bar and the second effort hit teammate Romelu Lukaku.
The Nerazzurri battled to the end. Lukaku forced two saves from Ederson, who thwarted Robin Gosens in the 96th minute to avert extra-time.
EFE msg/dr
