Manchester City came out on top in their UEFA Champions League first leg last-16 match against Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday night, defeating their Ukrainian opponents 3-1 thanks to a Yaya Toure goal in a match that was more balanced than the score would suggest.
An English side had never beaten Dynamo in Ukraine, but Manchester City were determined to change that, and they started off well, going ahead in the 15th minute through a Sergio Aguero goal, as the Argentinian striker reacted quickly from a Yaya Toure header to control and slot into goal.
The Citizens would double that lead before half time, when a well worked move ended with David Silva finishing to make it 2-0 and put Manchester City in a commanding position.
The flavour of the second half would change just before the hour mark, when midfielder Vitaliy Buyalskyi managed to score a goal for the home side, cutting the deficit and gaining momentum in attack.
This is where the talents of City keep Joe Hart became apparent, as the England stopper made a number of excellent saves to deny the hosts an equaliser. Toure had an incredible opportunity to put his team further ahead in the 82nd minute, but a simple header went agonizingly wide of the target.
He would make amends soon after, however, as he muscled his way through two Dynamo players to set himself up for a typical strike, this time with his left foot, and he curled it magically into the goal for a 90th minute pressure alleviator which handed his team a 3-1 victory to carry with them into the second leg at home in Manchester.
In the night’s other UEFA Champions League encounter, Atletico Madrid travelled to face PSV Eindhoven, and the match produced a disappointing goalless stalemate, in part due to the sending off of Uruguayan midfielder Gastón Pereiro of PSV for his second yellow card.
The match seemed to be coming to life after the hour mark, but his 68th minute red card ensured that the home side shut up shop and defended a draw, making their lives difficult for the return leg in Madrid.
