By Victor Kanayo
Premier League serial winner Manchester City on Saturday night damned all permutations amidst initially dubbed final to win the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League decided inside the Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.
The victory was made possible after Rodri blasted a 68th minute shot which ensured that Italian side Inter Milan lost 0-1 to City.
It was the first ever Champions League final triumph for Pep Guardiola men who had toiled many seasons to get here.
City Struggle, But Joyous End Afterall
While the game lasted, the Citizens struggled to impose their usual, dominant game upon the Italians in the first half with Erling Haaland seeing their best effort well blocked by Andre Onana.
Guardiola’s frustration was then compounded when the inspirational Kevin de Bruyne was forced to withdraw from the action for a second successive Champions League final after appearing to injure his hamstring.
The pattern continued following the break but after Lautaro Martinez went close for the Italians, the Citizens broke the deadlock when Rodri guided a sweet strike into the corner.
Federico Dimarco should have equalised two minutes later for the Nerazzurri but his looping header hit the crossbar with his follow-up inadvertently blocked by his team-mate Romelu Lukaku.
Simone Inzaghi’s men pushed late on but could not find a goal to force extra time with Ederson making a remarkable late save from Lukaku and City held on to lift their first European silverware since 1970.
Celebration Trigger
Then came wild celebration by the City fans at the final blast of whistle by the referee.
The win ensured that Manchester City got their dream treble in the just concluded season after they had grabbed Premier League and FA Cup, emulating United, the first to do so in 1999.
The parade for the treble is scheduled for Monday June 12, 2023.
