Dier Denies Man City Victory In Monaco As Haaland Scores Brace

Eric Dier scored a controversial 90th-minute penalty to deny Manchester City victory as AS Monaco twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw at the Stade Louis II.

Erling Haaland’s first-half brace had put City on course for a second consecutive win to start this season’s Champions League campaign, with Jordan Teze’s superb strike having cancelled out his first goal.

But City failed to kill the game off and with five minutes left to play, Dier and Nico González tussled as they tried to get on the end of a free kick. Replays showed González, with his boot raised, got the ball first but also struck the former Tottenham defender.

ESPN reports that the Spanish VAR Cesar Soto Grado told Jesus Gil Manzano to check the monitor and, after a long delay and an off-the-ball tussle in which a Monaco coach was sent off, Manzano pointed to the spot and Dier sent Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way.

City could question the decision but could and should have been further clear, with Phil Foden and Tijjani Reijnders striking the crossbar either side of Haaland’s second goal, which took the Norwegian to 52 Champions League goals in 50 appearances.

City’s number nine did not get a touch until the 15th minute but when he did, he scored. Josko Gvardiol spotted his run across the Monaco back line and lifted in a pass which Haaland could flick over Philipp Köhn with an outstretched boot.