…As Liverpool beat Villarreal to reach final
Senegalese international, Sadio Mane has overtaken the record of Ivorian football legend, Didier Drogba to become Africa’s highest goalscorer in the Champions League knockout stages.
Having scored against Villarreal on Tuesday night, the Senegal ace has eclipsed a feat achieved by the former Chelsea of England iconic hitman.
Mané was among the goalscorers as the Liverpool overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Villarreal 3-2 in Tuesday’s semi-final second leg showdown at Estadio de la Ceramica.
In doing so, he set a new landmark for African forwards in the European club competition and currently has the outright most goals in the Champions League knockout stages by an African player (15).
With the Spanish outfit needing to erase their 2-0 first leg shortfall against the Reds, the Yellow Submarine took an early lead thanks to Boulaye Dia.
The Senegal international’s goal came after two minutes and 51 seconds, the earliest the Premier League side has conceded in the competition since April 2018 (after one minute and 57 seconds vs Manchester City).
Unai Emery’s men doubled their advantage four minutes before the half time as Francis Coquelin headed Etienne Capoue’s cross past goalkeeper Alisson.
Jurgen Klopp’s side launched a comeback in the second half. First, Fabinho pulled one back for the visitors two minutes after the hour mark thanks to Mohamed Salah’s assist.
Five minutes later, Trent Alexander-Arnold teed up Luis Diaz for the equaliser before Mane completed the comeback triumph in the 74th minute with Naby Keita providing him with the pass.
Courtesy of that strike, the reigning African Player of the Year now has 15 goals in the tournament’s knockout stages, eclipsing the Chelsea legend’s mark of 14 goals as the African with the most such goals in the Champions League’s history.
Egypt international Salah is third with 11 goals, while Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o occupies fourth place having garnered 10.
Since his maiden appearance in the competition (during the 2017-18 season), only Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema (16) has more knockout stage goals than the former Southampton man, Mane.
With their well-deserved victory, Liverpool are set to confront either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final slated for May 28, 2022 at Stade de France.
