For a split second, it looked certain to creep inside the far corner.
But Sánchez reacted brilliantly.
The Chelsea goalkeeper planted his foot awkwardly before springing backward across goal, stretching both fists to punch the ball away for another corner.
"Excellent reflexes from Sánchez there," the commentator said. "That deflection could have killed him completely."
On the Manchester City bench, Lukas sat leaning forward now, elbows on his knees, eyes locked onto the pitch. Every missed chance was starting to build tension across the entire stadium.
Then came the biggest opportunity of the half.
43rd minute.
Reijnders received the ball centrally and immediately spotted Haaland making a sharp movement between Tosin and Chalobah. The Dutchman threaded the pass through perfectly toward the edge of the area.
Haaland's first touch was not clean.
But it was enough.
