Ederson finally gets his moment. Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final win over Inter Milan saw Ederson show just how good he is.
Ederson has been a vital part of Manchester City’s success in recent years. The Brazilian shot stopper is always reliable between the posts for City. His skill with the ball at his feet is also a vital part of Pep Guardiola’s side.
At times this season Ederson came in for unwarranted criticism. It always seemed unfounded as Ederson’s calmness in goal flows through the entire side.
In Saturday night’s UEFA Champions League final Ederson put all doubts to bed with a epic performance in goal. City needed their keeper to be in top form and he was.
In the first half Ederson suffered from the nerves of the occasion. One misplaced pass especially comes to mind as Ederson was nervous like his team mates were early.
But when the heat came on Manchester City in the second half, Ederson stepped up in a performance befitting the occasion.
First Ederson saved a clear chance from Lautaro Martinez before City’s opener. A Manuel Akanji error gifted Martinez a chance. But Ederson was alert and snuffed out the danger.
After a Rodri rocket had fired City into the lead. Inter Milan pressed hard for a equaliser. Ederson was City’s man for the moment.
He firstly made a vital save from a point blank Romelu Lukaku header to preserve City’s lead. It was a remarkable reflex save.
WHAT A SAVE FROM EDERSON!! 🤩
Has that moment just won them the Champions League…? 👀#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/NW3wYwYoaD
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 10, 2023
More heroics were to come from Ederson. As time ran out and Inter pressed forward, they had one final corner to save themselves.
A glancing header from Robin Gosens flashed across Ederson’s goal, and the City keeper made a fantastic save to preserve City’s lead.
Struggling to get over this save from Ederson. In the 95th minute, to win City the Champions League for the first time.
The highlight of his City career, bar none.
— Amos Murphy (@AmosMurphy_) June 11, 2023
The ball eventually went out for a goal kick and the final whistle came sparking jubilant scenes all over the pitch.
Nathan Ake was the first to Ederson to celebrate the achievement. It was a special moment between two of City’s key defensive players.
Ederson had earnt his moment. So often City dominate games and he is often left as a spectator.
But when Manchester City needed him the most on Saturday night, Ederson was ready.
It will go down in Manchester City history as one of the greatest Manchester City goal keeper performances.
It’s a fitting reward for Ederson and solidifies his place as one of the top goal keepers in world football, and Manchester City’s history.
