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City’s youngsters took control of their European hopes with a comeback victory against Roma.

The Blues now sit alone at the top of Group E after strikes from Oliver Ntcham and Thierry Ambrose made it two straight wins.

Roma threatened to frustrate with a turgid defensive performance, and Francesco Di Mariano tapped in to give the visitors the lead at the start of the second half.

But Patrick Vieira’s men surged back to claim a deserved - and potentially decisive - victory.

The Blues bossed the game in the opening period, with Roma happy to soak up possession and play on the counter.

Brandon Barker was impressive down the left and had the game’s first real chance when he sliced wide of the post having been put through.

Despite their dominance, City rarely tested the Roma keeper. Gabriele Marchegiani had to hold a long range drive from Ntcham and saw Tosin Adarabioyo head over the bar from a corner, but was largely untroubled.

Jose Pozo, fresh from his first-team duties, was first unable to cut the ball back to a Blues shirt then saw himself crowded out when Barker had centred it.

Not that the Blues were kept busy at the back. Daniele Verde looked lively and Di Mariano twice went close but a strong backline restricted Roma on their brief forays forward.

City’s profligacy would hurt them.

Roma came out refreshed from the interval and struck the opening blow after Verde had again worked space down City’s left.

But the Italians retreated even further into their defensive structure and it allowed the Blues to take back control of the game.

The home side were again allowed possession and Ntcham finally made it count minutes later when he lashed home from outside the box after Pozo's superb break.

City had been guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net so Ntcham’s strike was reward for a more direct approach.

It gave them more confidence too, and more good work from Pozo and Ntcham gave Ambrose room to smash the ball into the top corner.

Roma finally broke their defensive shackles and City stopper Angus Gunn saved the points with several fine stops as shots pinballed around his box in the last ten minutes.

But the Blues held on, and head to Moscow - 3-1 winners against Bayern - in October looking to put themselves in even better shape for qualifying.

CITY: Gunn; Bossaerts (Smith-Brown), Maffeo, Adarabioyo, Tasende, Bryan, Ntcham, Ambrose, Byrne (Celina 70), Barker (Nemane 40), Pozo