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Erling Haaland struck twice as holders Manchester City moved a step closer to the Champions League knockout stages with a hard-fought 3-1 win at Young Boys.<\/p>\n
Haaland put City back into the lead on the artificial surface at Bern\u2019s Wankdorf Stadium after Switzerland international Manuel Akanji\u2019s opener had been brilliantly cancelled out by Meschack Elia.<\/p>\n
Substitute Julian Alvarez had an effort ruled out by VAR but Haaland made victory certain with a smart finish four minutes from time.<\/p>\n
The win was City\u2019s third in succession in Group G and they could now secure their spot in their last 16 for an 11th successive year with a follow-up victory over the Swiss side at home in a fortnight.<\/p>\n
There had been much talk over the synthetic pitch in the build-up to the game and heavy rain added another variable element but it proved a free-flowing encounter.<\/p>\n
Young Boys started well with Filip Ugrinic forcing a save from Ederson before Rodri headed wide from a corner.<\/p>\n
Jack Grealish, who ignored the persistent booing of the vociferous home crowd, teed up Jeremy Doku with a superb first-time ball but the Belgian slipped as he cut inside and Anthony Racioppi saved.<\/p>\n
The impressive Swiss keeper denied Haaland soon after but did have a moment of alarm when he spilled a Grealish shot. Matheus Nunes could only poke the loose ball weakly towards goal, however, and Loris Benito cleared off the line.<\/p>\n
Doku went close again after switching from the right to left wing but Racioppi brilliantly saved his curling effort and blocked a first-time Rodri shot.<\/p>\n
Young Boys had a good spell before the break with first Cedric Itten breaking clear but failing to beat Ederson.<\/p>\n
Itten then teed up Sandro Lauper with a neat flick but Nathan Ake got back to block before a powerful Lewin Blum effort was turned behind. Itten went close again from the set-piece as his header dropped narrowly over.<\/p>\n
While that made for a lively end to the first half, the game truly burst into life early in the second.<\/p>\n
Akanji and Nunes both had chances before City grabbed the lead in the 48th minute. Rodri delivered a cross into the box and Ruben Dias, still forward following a corner, had a header tipped onto the bar by Racioppi. Akanji reacted the quickest to turn the ball in.<\/p>\n
City went in immediate search of a second but were caught out after a Haaland shot was saved by Racioppi.<\/p>\n
The ball was quickly sent to the other end and played into the path of Elia, who caught Ederson stranded off his line with a superb lob.<\/p>\n
Young Boys were firmly back in the game and Itten forced Ederson into an awkward save with a swerving shot.<\/p>\n
City stepped up the intensity and were awarded a penalty when Mohamed Ali Camara, moments after being booked, caught Rodri from behind. Haaland stepped up to thump home his 10th of the season.<\/p>\n
City thought they had claimed another through Alvarez but his low strike was ruled out for a Grealish handball in the build-up.<\/p>\n
It fell to Haaland to complete the job, the striker wrong-footing the defence just inside the box and then lifting into the top corner.<\/p>\n