Young defender Rico Lewis, boasting the confidence of a seasoned striker, fired a shot to equalize for Manchester City in their last Champions League group stage game. This goal not only made Lewis the youngest player to score in his first start in the Champions League but also snatched the title from Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema.
Manchester City's coach Pep Guardiola praised Lewis, saying, "We don't make gifts here, he's got to earn his gifts himself." Guardiola acknowledged Lewis' talent, admitting his delight for the young player. Lewis' joy was palpable as he netted the equalizer before pumping his fist in celebration.
Lewis' timely goal was a lifeline for the much-changed Manchester City side, struggling in the stadium and trailing Sevilla. Rafa Mir, who posed a constant threat to Manchester City's goal, opened the scoring for Sevilla with a powerful header from a corner.
Manchester City dominated the game but struggled to create many opportunities. Ilkay Gündogan came closest, narrowly missing out after a complex interchange with Phil Foden. Though Manchester City monopolized play, it took 53 minutes for their least-known player to make an impact.
Julian Alvarez, given a rare start due to Erling Haaland's injury, delivered the pass to the charging full-back. Lewis had a mountain to climb from a tricky angle, but he overcame the challenge, outsmarting Sevilla's keeper Yassin Bounou with a brilliant strike.
Manchester City still had some star names to introduce, including Kevin De Bruyne, who provided a characteristic assist to Alvarez, who rounded the Sevilla keeper and fired home to take City into the lead. Riyad Mahrez ensured the victory by finishing off another Alvarez assist, curling home after a miscommunication in Sevilla's danger area.
Julian Alvarez's performance was commendable, and he seized the opportunity to lead from the front. The striker became the first and youngest Argentine to be directly involved in three goals in a single Champions League match since Lionel Messi in 2009.
Manchester City now sits atop Group G, having won all but one game and qualifying for the group stage for the tenth consecutive year. Guardiola's satisfaction comes from the youngsters in the City academy, as he sees them as the future of the club.
Racist abuse that Rico Lewis received during a Champions League match against Sevilla on November 2, 2022, unrelated to his debut game-winning performance, was met with condemnation from Manchester City. The club stated, "We will not tolerate discriminatory abuse towards children in our stadium, and we will offer our full support to Rico following these despicable incidents."
Noteworthy Mentions:
Lewis' exhilarating dance on the pitch celebrated his stunning performance in football. This magnificent goal sealed an unexpected victory for Manchester City over Sevilla.
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The enrichment data, though not directly related to the article, highlights an instance of racist abuse towards Rico Lewis, which Manchester City strongly condemned.
