Rodrygo scored two late goals to set up extra time against Manchester City before Karim Benzema’s penalty gave Real Madrid an insane 6-5 aggregate victory in another epic Champions League semi-final tie. The Citizens will be cursing their luck and wondering exactly what more they need to do to finally make the UCL final.Riyad Mahrez scored with 20 minutes remaining to give Manchester City a two-goal aggregate lead and put them on course for the first UEFA Champions League final, but a breathtaking late brace from Rodrygo sent us to extra time.There were no Karim Benzema heroics this time, there were no magical comebacks. This was pure business. The Citizens arrived in Madrid with a task to stop Real Madrid from playing their game and they did their job professionally and with authority.Last week’s meeting between these clubs was a seven-goal thriller that showcased just about all the best things football can deliver. Both teams were a bit more cautious this time. Understandably, City were holding on to their 4-3 lead gained at the Etihad while the Spanish side struggled to build some sort of pressure. Los Blancos have had more of the ball, especially in the ten minutes leading up to the break, but all four shots on target in the first 45 minutes were directed at Thibaut Courtois’ net. The new champions of Spain needed to find another gear.Vinicius Junior had a glorious chance to level the aggregate score just after the restart after an inviting Dani Carvajal ball from the right wing. Still, the Brazilian clumsily side-footed wide of the mark from a favourable position.The painful midfield battle promised that the tie would go right down to the wire, but Guardiola’s in-form duo of Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez combined well and stunned the Whites with a fine counter-attack that was finished off by the Algerian to send the travelling fans in dreamworld.Home players were looking deflated after the goal that widened the gap to two goals. They looked like they couldn’t mount another dramatic comeback – until Rodrygo came off the bench. The Citizens came close twice through Joao Cancelo and substitute Jack Grealish and were cruising to the final. But then, Rodrygo did his best Karim Benzema impersonation by scoring two goals in the space of a minute to make it 5-5 on aggregate and set up the additional 30 minutes of football. First, a tap-in from a Benzema knock-down and then a majestic header turned the tie on its head and made those City fans look in disbelief at what’s happening to their team.REAL MADRID FANS WERE LEAVING 10 MINUTES AGO. WE’RE NOW HEADING FOR EXTRA TIME 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Fh3EaXPMfs— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 4, 2022 There were quite a few Madrid fans who left the Bernabeu in disgust after Mahrez’s goal. They must have felt like idiots on their way home! They probably felt even worse five minutes into extra time. Ruben Dias fouled Benzema in the box and the indestructible Frenchman converted the penalty by sending Ederson the wrong way. It was 3-1 on the night and 6-5 overall. Suddenly, it was City’s turn to chase.Guardiola’s men were looking like a boxer who’d taken one too many blows in the head. They rarely looked like repeating the hosts’ trick and coming back. Playing in the Champions League final will remain a fantasy for them for at least another year.The result means that we’ll watch the 2018 final re-match. Real Madrid will face Liverpool for the biggest prize in European club football. Mark 28 May in your calendar because it’ll be a cracking match at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUESemi-final, second legTuesdayVillarreal – Liverpool 2-3 (2-0)/Dia 3, Coquelin 41 – Fabinho 62, Diaz 67, Mane 74/Liverpool win 5-2 on aggregate.WednesdayReal Madrid – Manchester City 3-1 (2-1, 0-0)/Rodrygo 90, 90+1, Benzema 95 pen – Mahrez 73/Real Madrid win 6-5 on aggregate after extra time.Final Saturday, 28 May22.00: Liverpool – Real Madrid
