Yaya Touré seemed back to his imperious best on Wednesday evening as Manchester City look set to finally advance beyond the UEFA Champions League last 16 with a handsome 1st leg win in Kiev.
First-half strikes from Sergio Aguero and David Silva gave City a foothold against potentially tricky opposition — the Argentine predator lashed in from close range in the 15th minute after a Touré flick, with the Spaniard converting a Raheem Sterling cross five minutes before the break. Then Touré, outstanding all evening, completed a 3-1 victory with a typical swerving 90th minute strike from the edge of the area.
Dynamo Kiev will probably have to win by three clear goals in the second leg in Manchester unless they score four or more, which does seem beyond them based on Wednesday’s showing; albeit their previous competitive game had been in early December.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini can now prepare for Sunday’s League Cup final with Liverpool flushed with vindication for fielding an under-strength team in the FA Cup at Chelsea at the weekend and losing 5-1, the Mancunians biggest reverse under the current ownership. A losing run of three matches had been the worst sequence of his time in charge and victory in Kiev was necessary to soothe the damage done.
