Manchester, Dec 9 (IANS): Manchester City came from behind to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 4-2 and snatch first place in Champions League Group D from Juventus.
In a dramatic finish here on Tuesday, Raheem Sterling -- on his 21st birthday -- scored twice and substitute Wilfried Bony once in a six-minute spell for a City side who had trailed until the 80th minute. Consequently they can look forward to going into the round of 16 as group winners for the first time.
For Monchengladbach, who had led 2-1 through goals from Julian Korb and Raffael, it was a bitter blow as they slipped from third place in the group to fourth, below Sevilla who defeated Juventus 1-0, the result that allowed City to overtake Juventus.
City's David Silva it was who broke the deadlock after Sterling released him with a cute back-heel and the Spaniard, cutting in from the left of the box, flashed a shot high past goalkeeper Yann Sommer at his near post.
Julian Korb scored three minutes later for Monchengladbach.
With half-time approaching, the visitors struck on 42 minutes. Oscar Wendt played the ball in and Fabian Johnson took a shot which Raffael diverted past Hart from close range.
Sterling led the recovery in the second half. He stabbed in from a Gael Clichy cross in the 80th and then minutes later curled in superbly from the edge of the box after being played in by Bony.
Bony himself completed the turnaround as the home supporters erupted in celebration.