Why Nathan Ake goal on Man City return vs Sparta Prague was disallowed after VAR controversy

Manchester City's would-be second goal - scored by Nathan Ake - was disallowed after VAR adjudged the Dutch defender to have handled the ball before netting.

City got off to the best possible start against Sparta Prague in the Champions League when England's Phil Foden managed to squeeze a shot underneath the visiting goalkeeper to open the scoring inside three minutes. Despite the quick start, the Blues then, for a while, struggled to increase the advantage leading to Pep Guardiola cutting a frustrated figure on the side-lines.

Shortly after the second half began, Ake thought he had doubled their advantage when he squeezed the ball in from close range. The City players had completed their celebrations when VAR completed a check and ruled that the defender had handled the ball prior to it going in the back of the net.

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While Ake's hand was close to his body, and that action was not deliberate, rules on handball that were amended recently state that the ball cannot hit a player's hand, deliberately or not, in the build-up to scoring. Fortunately for City, they did not have to wait long to double their advantage and it was worth waiting for.

Just before the hour mark, Savinho's cross found Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland right in the centre and he produced a magnificent acrobatic back heel to beat Peter Vindahl Jensen in the Czech side's goal. It was three little more than five minutes later as England's John Stones looped a header into the corner of the net.

Haaland added a fourth shortly afterwards. On the basis City beat Prague, they will move on to seven points in the Champions League - and put themselves in a good