What happened...
Manchester City ended the group stage of this season’s UEFA Youth League with a 3-2 victory over Celtic.
Second half goals from Rodney Kongolo, Jadon Sancho and Lorenzo Gonzalez sealed the points for City after they had fallen two behind in the first period.
City will now go in to the play-off stage of the UEFA Youth League where they will face one of the teams to have come through the domestic champions route.
Celtic were handed the first advantage after just four minutes when Charlie Oliver’s trip on marauding centre-back Kristoffer Ajer gave the Scots the chance from the penalty spot.
Winger Michael Johnston sent Kjetil Haug the wrong way from 12 yards.
Despite City’s improvement in possession following the opener, it was Celtic who scored the next goal of the match. Right winger Theodore Archibald cut in on to his left foot and curled inside the far post.
City reverted back to the 3-2-2-3 they adopted in Friday’s defeat to Hull for the second half and it gave them instant control in midfield.
Will Patching entered the fray and his first role was to send a floated cross into the box for Rodney Kongolo to meet and touch home.
The equaliser eventually arrived with less than 10 minutes to play as Paolo Fernandes dug out a cross from the right and Sancho stepped on to it to power his header past Doohan.
From that moment there was only winner and Lorenzo Gonzalez was the scorer in the 90th minute after Fernandes had side-stepped the Celtic defence.
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What it means...
City finish second in Group C of the UEFA Youth League with 12 points and qualify for the play-off phase.
City welcome Reading to the Academy Stadium on Saturday 10 December. Visit the ticket office for information on how you can support our future at upcoming home fixtures.
Key moment...
As Kristoffer Ajer stormed through the centre of the pitch past City’s midfielders, his determination looked likely to create a chance.
Charlie Oliver resorted to bringing the big defender down and Celtic took control of the first half from that moment.
Man of the match...
Jadon Sancho - The England youth international scored City’s equaliser and deserved the plaudits he received after a busy and productive afternoon down the left wing.
How they lined up...
Kjetil Haug maintained his role as the goalkeeper for the European team.
Demeaco Duhaney, Cameron Humphreys, Charlie Oliver and Edward Francis were the experienced defence protecting Haug’s goal.
Matt Smith sat at the base of the midfield behind captain Rodney Kongolo and Paolo Fernandes while Luke Bolton and Jadon Sancho, flanked Brahim Diaz.
Substitutes: Sokol, Latibeaudiere, Pozo, Patching, Buckley-Ricketts, Gonzalez, Nmecha
Confused about the format and rules of the UEFA Youth League? Here’s a handy guide to explain all the competitions our youngsters will be taking part in this season.
