Jesus hits hat-trick as rampant Man City crush Shakhtar 6-0

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus scores their fourth goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Darren Staples

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Gabriel Jesus hit a hat-trick, including two penalties, as Manchester City marched closer to the knockout stage of the Champions League after crushing Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

The result left City within a whisker of the last 16, as Group F leaders with nine points, three ahead of second-placed Olympique Lyonnais who drew 2-2 with Hoffenheim.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores their third goal REUTERS/Darren Staples

The Germans are third on three points, while Shakhtar are bottom on two and City will book their place in the next round with a win or a draw in Lyon on Nov. 27.

"Unfortunately we haven't qualified, but we are so close and will try to maintain this level. Maybe it will help keep us focused," said City manager Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard's team are simply destroying opponents at the moment and have scored 19 goals in their past four home games in all competitions.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring their sixth goal to complete his hat-trick Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Even with Argentine striker Sergio Aguero left on the bench and midfield playmaker Kevin de Bruyne injured, they were simply too strong for Shakhtar.

Riyad Mahrez created the 13th-minute opener, toying with the Shakhtar defence before his low ball, across the face of goal was turned in by skipper David Silva.

Guardiola's side, who enjoyed a 6-1 win on Sunday over Southampton in the Premier League, doubled their advantage in the 24th minute after a comical penalty award that left the visitors shaking their heads in disbelief.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Shakhtar Donetsk's Yaroslav Rakitskiy shoots at goal from a free kick as Manchester City's John Stones attempts to block REUTERS/Darren Staples

Raheem Sterling burst into the penalty area and went down, without any contact or even a challenge, after driving his foot into the ground, as he attempted a chip. Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai could not have seen the incident clearly as he awarded the spot-kick and Brazilian Jesus slotted home.

Both managers said after the game that the referee had made a mistake, with Shakhtar boss Paulo Fonseca laughing as he described the decision as "ridiculous".

Sterling said he had apologised to the official, but while he may be embarrassed to watch that replay on television, he will take great pleasure from what came next.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Ederson makes a save REUTERS/Andrew Yates

The England winger scored a brilliant third after leaving two Shakhtar defenders standing as he flew out of midfield and then beat Andriy Pyatov with a superb shot into the corner.

Jesus added the fourth in the 72nd minute, again from the penalty spot, after Taras Stepanenko brought down David Silva in the box before Mahrez finished off a well-worked counter-attack six minutes from the end.

Mahrez then set up Jesus for his hat-trick, a perfect through ball allowing the Brazilian to deliver a deft chip over Pyatov and into the goal.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Shakhtar Donetsk's Taras Stepanenko in action with Manchester City's Fernandinho Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus scores their fourth goal from a penalty Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus scores their fourth goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus in action with Shakhtar Donetsk's Yaroslav Rakitskiy REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez scores their fifth goal REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring their fifth goal REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Manchester City's David Silva in action with Shakhtar Donetsk's Maycon and Viktor Kovalenko REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykola Matviyenko in action with Manchester City's Raheem Sterling REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group F - Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2018 Shakhtar Donetsk's Taison in action with Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus REUTERS/Andrew Yates