BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The Portuguese connection of João Cancelo and Bernardo Silva combined for almost identical goals as Manchester City beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 Wednesday to close in on a fourth straight appearance in the Champions League quarterfinals.
A 19th straight win for the Premier League leaders never looked in doubt in the last-16 first leg from the moment Cancelo, City’s playmaker at fullback, pounced on a loose pass and swung in a cross from the left that the diminutive Silva headed in at the far post in the 29th minute.
The same combination struck again in the 65th, Cancelo sending over a similar-looking cross this time to the byline, where Silva nodded the ball across goal for Gabriel Jesus to prod into the net from inside the six-yard box.