Manchester City 5-1 AEK Athens FC: Report, result and goals as Foden hat-trick helps hosts to easy win

/ Match Reports Manchester City 5-1 AEK Athens FC: Report, result and goals as Foden hat-trick helps hosts to easy win Catch up with Manchester City vs AEK Athens in the Champions League.

UEFA Champions League, League Stage – 3 Manchester City MCI 5 – 1 Full Time AEK Athens FC AEK Venue Etihad Stadium Referee Willy Delajod Elliot Anderson 12′ Phil Foden 34′ Rayan Cherki 57′ Phil Foden 65′ Phil Foden 76′ Stavros Pilios 52′ Phil Foden scored his first Champions League hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

The England international struck three times and provided an assist, while Elliot Anderson scored his first City goal and Rayan Cherki also found the net.

AEK made a positive start but fell behind after 12 minutes when Floyd Samba was fouled just outside the penalty area.

Enzo Fernandez struck the resulting free-kick against the crossbar, with the rebound falling kindly for Anderson to finish into an empty net.

City continued to threaten, with Allan hitting the woodwork before Foden doubled their advantage in the 34th minute.

The midfielder combined with Rico Lewis, who raced towards the byline and cut the ball back for Foden to fire high past Alberto Brignoli.

Cherki almost added a third before the break, but the AEK goalkeeper produced a good save to keep the visitors within two goals.

A big #UCL win! 🖐⭐️🩵 5-1 🟡 pic.twitter.com/sCzA7uXmyn

AEK briefly threatened a comeback after half-time, with Stavros Pilios reducing the deficit in the 52nd minute.

Substitute Zine raced past Abdukodir Khusanov down the left before finding Pilios, who drove a left-footed effort into the bottom corner.

However, City restored their two-goal advantage just five minutes later.

Foden collected a loose ball on the edge of the area and picked out Cherki, who cleverly cut inside Kervin Arriaga before finishing past Brignoli.

Foden then grabbed his second in the 65th minute following another excellent move involving Cherki and Lewis.

Cherki’s diagonal pass found Lewis, whose cushioned cut-back allowed Foden to guide a first-time left-footed effort into the top corner.

The 26-year-old completed his hat-trick 11 minutes later, with teenage substitute Ryan McAidoo providing the assist.

Lewis released McAidoo down the right, and the 18-year-old drove to the byline before squaring for Foden to finish from close range.

It was Foden’s first Champions League hat-trick, making him only the third Englishman to score three goals and provide an assist in the same match, after Wayne Rooney and Raheem Sterling.

AEK offered little in response, although Mijat Gacinovic attempted an ambitious effort from halfway after spotting Gianluigi Donnarumma off his line.

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