Foden scores three as City pull away after halftime
Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as Manchester City defeated AEK Athens 5–1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, October 20, in the Champions League. Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also scored as City claimed their second league-phase victory.
Anderson opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Foden added City’s second in the 34th, giving the home side a 2–0 advantage at halftime after an opening period in which AEK struggled to contain the attack.
The visitors briefly reduced the gap after the interval. Stavros Pilios scored in the 51st minute following Zini’s pass, bringing AEK back to within one goal and interrupting City’s control of the scoreline.
The response was immediate enough to prevent that moment becoming a sustained comeback. Cherki made it 3–1 in the 56th minute, and Foden scored again in the 65th before completing his treble in the 76th.
City produced the five-goal performance with Erling Haaland starting on the bench. The scoring came from several parts of the attack, although Foden supplied the largest share and finished with the match ball.
The win took City to six points from three Champions League matches. AEK remained on three points after their third outing, leaving the teams separated by the value of one victory in the league-phase standings.
UEFA named Foden player of the match. For City, the result added a clear home win to their European campaign; for AEK, Pilios’ goal proved only a short interruption before the hosts extended their advantage.