All Whites midfielder Marko Stamenic has made New Zealand football history by becoming only the second Kiwi to score in the Champions League.
The 21-year-old Wellington-born enforcer found the back of the net for Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday (Thursday NZT) in a 3-1 loss to Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena that leaves the Serbian club rooted to the bottom of Group G.
Trailing 2-0 courtesy of goals from David Raum and Xavi Simons for the hosts, Stamenic gave the visitors hope in the 70th minute when he volleyed in from close range after a shot from team-mate Aleksandar Dragović deflected kindly into his path.
However, it proved to be a mere consolation as a Dani Olmo strike six minutes from time ensured the German Bundesliga outfit took all three points.
Still, with the milestone goal, Stamenic joined New Zealand footballing icon Wynton Rufer as one of only two Kiwis to score in European football’s premier club competition.
Rufer famously shared the golden boot with Dutch international Ronald Koeman, then of Barcelona, in the 1993-94 season, scoring eight times for German club Werder Bremen.
Matthias Schrader/AP
Red Star Belgrade’s Marko Stamenic wheels away after pulling a goal back against Red Bull Leipzig.
In Wednesday’s (Thursday NZT) other Group G game, defending champions Manchester City beat Young Boys 3-1 in Switzerland thanks to second half goals from Manuel Akanji and Erling Haaland, who bagged a brace.
Haaland hadn’t scored in his previous five matches in the competition, stretching back to last season’s semifinals in May, but he ended that improbable run by blasting a spot-kick down the middle in the 67th minute to put City 2-1 ahead.
The Norway striker wrapped up the victory by curling a shot into the top corner with his weaker right foot in the 86th minute.
It’s now 37 goals in 33 Champions League games for the scoring phenomenon, who is into double figures (11) for the season in all competitions as he looks to follow up a debut campaign for City when he netted 52 times.
Before his penalty, it had been a frustrating evening for Haaland and City – restricted to half-chances in a first half that ended goalless on the artificial pitch at Wankdorf Stadium.
Anthony Anex/AP
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scores from the penalty spot in their 3-1 win over Young Boys in Bern.
A tap-in by Manuel Akanji eventually gave City the lead in the 48th minute, only for the titleholders to concede four minutes later when Meschack Elia ran in behind City’s defence and scooped a finish over the stranded Ederson.
The result means Pep Guardiola’s side top Group G with a maximum nine points from their three games, with Leipzig in second place with six points.
Another win at home to Young Boys in two weeks’ time will see City qualify with two matches to spare, allowing them to focus on a tough-looking upcoming Premier League schedule, starting with the Manchester derby on Sunday (Monday NZT).
Both Young Boys and Red Star have a point apiece after a 2-2 draw in Belgrade earlier this month.
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Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is challenged by Dortmund counterpart Marcel Sabitzer.
Magpies get wings clipped
Borussia Dortmund ignited their Champions League campaign by winning 1-0 at Newcastle to hand the Saudi-owned English team a first loss on their return to the competition following a 20-year absence.
Felix Nmecha turned in Nico Schlotterbeck’s cross in the 45th minute for what, surprisingly, was the only goal in an end-to-end encounter at St James’ Park.
Newcastle came into the game on the back of four points from two group games, most recently a 4-1 thrashing of Paris Saint-Germain, but the top scorers in this season’s Premier League couldn’t find that clinical edge.
Newcastle did, though, hit the goal frame twice, including Anthony Gordon in stoppage time when his shot took a deflection and bounced onto the crossbar.
But Dortmund survived for their first win in Group F and joined Newcastle on four points, two fewer than leaders PSG, who thrashed AC Milan 3-0 with goals from Kylian Mbappe, Randal Kolo Muani and Lee Kang-in in the French capital.
Newcastle lost striker Alexander Isak and winger Jacob Murphy to injuries during the game, played in torrential rain.
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Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata breaks Celtics’ hearts with a second equaliser in Glasgow.
Celtic hold Spanish giants to draw
Atletico Madrid missed a chance to take the outright lead of Group E after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Celtic.
Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata scored a goal in each half as Atletico twice came from behind to salvage a draw. Celtic scored before halftime through Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma.
Atletico played with 10 men from the 83rd minute as midfielder Rodrigo de Paul was sent off with a second yellow card for a hard sliding tackle.
With the battling point, Atletico now have five, one behind group leaders Feyenoord, who beat Lazio 3-1in the other group game.
Celtic remain last with one point, three behind third-place Lazio.
AT A GLANCE
Champions League results:
Group E
Feyenoord 3-1 Lazio
Celtic 2-2 Atletico Madrid
Group F
Newcastle United 0-1 Borussia Dortmund
Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 AC Milan
Group G
RB Leipzig 3-1 Red Star Belgrade
Young Boys 1-3 Manchester City
Group H
Barcelona 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Royal Antwerp 1-4 FC Porto
– Additional reporting by AP
