JOB done – as Manchester City booked a place in the knock-out stages for a seventh straight season.
But the jury remains out on whether this could be the season when they finally make an impact at the business end of the competition.
Ilkay Gundogan put Man City ahead after 56 minutesCredit: Reuters
Ilkay Gundogan’s second half goal was enough to give Pep Guardiola’s men the point they needed to go through.
And despite a Manor Solomon equaliser, they will also go through as group winners thanks to Atalanta’s win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Three wins from their first three fixtures meant it was only a matter of time until they completed those formalities.
So maybe City were saving themselves for what promises to be a tricky December on the domestic front.
But there was not much evidence here to show why they are one of the favourites to lift the trophy in Istanbul in May.
This was the sixth meeting of these two sides in just over two years – with City winning four and losing only one – and even that one didn’t really matter.
Yet it turned into a more difficult night than many imagined for Guardiola’s men.
The manager picked a stronger side than many had expected but his team almost got off to the worst possible start.
Ederson came dashing out of his goal to clear a long hopeful punt forward and completely mid-judged it – taking a fresh air shot.
Tete was in on goal but he took too long and that allowed Fernandinho to get back and make a superb sliding goal-line clearance.
The veteran midfielder – who is being used as a centre back this season – made his name with Shakhtar but did them no favours here.
The Brazilian keeper – normally so good with his feet – owed his countryman big time but he hadn’t let the incident put him off.
Minutes later he dashed off his line again – this time just beating Junior Moraes to a ball they were both chasing.
The home side had taken a long time to get going but final forced Andriy Pyatov in the Shakhtar goal into action when he gathered Rodri’s low shot.
Solomon equalised for Shakhtar as the Ukrainians put themselves in pole position to follow City through to the knock-out stagesCredit: Rex Features
Serhiy Kryvtsov clears the ball off the line after a Manchester City shotCredit: AFP or licensors
But the Ukrainians were giving Guardiola’s men problems with Tete doing great work down the right before the ball was squared for Alan Patrick who skied his shot over the bar.
There were chances at both ends and Pyatov just about managed to hold on to a thumping header from Nicolas Otamendi as he got on the end of Angelino’s cross.
But it had been a strangely lacklustre half from the home side – with Gabriel Jesus starved of service on his first night deputising for the injured Sergio Aguero.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was a surprise guest in the Etihad directors box – sitting next to chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak.
The threat of a Champions League ban still hangs over City for fouling foul of financial fair play again.
But his appearance, which included a tour of the City Football Academy – would suggest relations are starting to thaw.
Ceferin must have been more impressed with the facilities than he was by City’s first half performance.
Yet over in Milan, Atalanta had taken the lead against Dinamo Zagreb meaning a draw was good enough to send the Premier League champs through.
Tete had a shot cleared off the line by Fernandinho after Ederson completely missed his clearanceCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Guardiola’s side struggled to break down a well-organised Ukrainian sideCredit: AP:Associated Press
Phil Foden came on in the last 15 minutes for CityCredit: Rex Features
Even so, you can be sure Guardiola had a few words with his team about their first half showing.
It took just over 10 minutes of the second half for them to finally make the breakthrough as Kevin de Bruyne clipped a ball into the area.
Jesus stayed onside and held off his man before finding Gundogan who had the simple job of rolling the ball home.
The German international was outstanding in Kiev when the teams met back in September and here he was causing them problems again.
It looked like just what City needed and it was definitely just what Jesus needed.
They are going to rely heavily on him while Aguero is out – and his manager is convinced he has what it takes.
However the lead did not last long as the Ukrainians were level midway through the second half.
And it was sub Manor Solomon – who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes – who got the equaliser.
Dodo found himself in space down the right and his low cross evaded all the home defenders before being smashed in by the Israeli sub.
That was the cue for Guardiola to throw on club captain David Silva and the Spaniard almost restored City’s lead within minutes.
Again Jesus was the provider as he turned the ball back from the byline and Silva’s shot almost bobbled in before Serhiy Kryvtasov somehow got it off the line.
Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling had late chances to win the game – but in the end it didn’t matter.
City have done their job in topping a fairy gentle group – stiffer tests lie ahead in the spring though.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
