Sadio Mane Equals Didier Drogba Champions League Record

Sadio Mane Equals Didier Drogba Champions League Record

Sadio Mane moved level with Chelsea legend Didier Drogba by scoring his 14th goal in the Champions League knockout stages.

The 30-year-old netted Liverpool’s second as the Reds beat Villarreal 2-0 in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Mane, who played 73 minutes at Anfield, latched onto Mohamed Salah’s cute through ball in the 55th minute and poked past Geronimo Rulli to double his side’s lead, edging them closer to May’s final.

Jurgen Klopp’s men went in front after Jordan Henderson’s cross was deflected in off Villarreal defender Pervis Estupinan less than two minutes before Mane struck.

The Senegal star matched Drogba’s output with knockout goal number 14, which is the record for an African player in Champions League history.

The Ivorian won the competition with Chelsea in 2012, bagging a memorable header in the final against Bayern Munich before scoring the winning penalty in the shoot-out.

Drogba’s achievements, however, could soon be eclipsed by Mane, who is hoping to lift his second European trophy in May.