‘How do you miss that? If you want anyone to have that opportunity it’s him’: Raheem Sterling’s open-goal sitter leaves Rio Ferdinand staggered as Man City star blows chance to equalise just 59 seconds before Ederson howler sealed Lyon win
- Raheem Sterling missed an open goal as Manchester City crashed out of Europe
- The BT Sport pundits said he put too much power in his effort which sailed over
- It was a crucial moment as Lyon went on to score a third goal a minute later
- Ederson was at fault as he spilled a weak shot for Moussa Dembele to pounce
Raheem Sterling’s glaring open-goal miss against Lyon left Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand aghast in the BT Sport studio as Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League quarter-final.
Sterling had the goal at his mercy after Gabriel Jesus laid the ball across to him, but the forward uncharacteristically got his finish all wrong and blazed over the crossbar from just a matter of yards.
The striker could have drawn Manchester City level and was instantly punished for his miss with Lyon going up the other end to score and put the game to bed 59 seconds later.
Raheem Sterling missed an open goal before Lyon went on to score a third goal a minute later
The England international could only blast his effort over the bar after a set-up by Gabriel Jesus
BT presenter Lineker and pundit Rio Ferdinand tried to work out how the striker managed to spurn the gilt-edged opportunity, which ended up costing City the game.
‘How do you miss that?’ a shocked Ferdinand questioned.
‘If you want anyone to have that opportunity it’s him.’
The England star has been ruthless in front of goal this season and is the club’s top scorer with 31 goals in all competitions.
Lineker admitted Sterling will likely have nightmares about the miss as he tried to explain what went wrong.
‘He’s tried to hit it too hard,’ said Lineker.
Sterling and his team-mates were distraught at full-time as City crashed out of the competition
‘The only way you can miss it is if you put your foot through it. All you’ve got to do is let your foot hit it. You just need to take the weight off but he’s tried to hit it with a bit of force. He’s not going to sleep well tonight.’
Lyon’s third goal came less than a minute later after the miss with Ederson making a blunder to allow Moussa Dembele to score
The Brazilian could only palm a weak shot straight to Dembele who tapped-in from close range.
Former City goalkeeper Joe Hart was watching on in the studio and said the whole team had lost their composure by the time of the third goal.
Ederson was at fault for Lyon’s third as he palmed straight to Moussa Dembele, who tapped in
‘It’s the situation of the game. If this is a well struck shot he saves it,’ Hart added.
‘It’s desperation, Ederson will say he’s got to do better but it’s the situation of the game. They were flustered, the whole team’s head was gone.’
The result meant Pep Guardiola’s side crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage once again.