Manchester City Football Club vs Athletic Club Omonia Nicosia City of Manchester Stadium 7:45 PM 2:45 PM EST No television for this one, shocker!
Strong lineup today: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Ben-Haim, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Kompany, Elano, Robinho, Jo. subs: Schmeichel (GK), Ball, Fernandes, Hamann, Sturridge, Evans, Petrov.
I am hoping to gain some momentum from this game heading into the Liverpool match Sunday. Sunday's fixture is a HUGE match for us, especially if we can get some kind of result against them. Read that Dunne is sitting out because he picked up a knock against Wigan so Ben Haim is in there right now. Lets handle business and advance.
Halftime, we could be doing better in the possesion department, right now they own it at 53-47. Not really the dominant performance I think MH was looking for but the second half could be a whole lot different. While, maybe we've had some possesion issues, defense is looking strong. They have only 3 shots with none on goal. Looking for a strong second half.
http://es.justin.tv/directsports2 It's 6 in the morning in Aus, i'm only up because i couldn't sleep so dont' expect any insight frome me. Reckon we need to get either Elano/Ireland off and bring Sturridge/Evans on to support Jo. Neither keeper has had to make a save so far.
48th - Goal!! Blumer Elano hits a very good right footed shot to the lower left corner from the left channel (aprox. 20 yards) and scores!! Man City now leads 1 - 0 Assited by Robinho!
Game over really. Nicosa aren't going to score twice at Eastlands. Was it a good goal CB ? Went to get a coke to soothe my headache and we scored in the three minutes i was away.
Game over. 2-1, could of and should of been more and bad defending on the header and Hart barely even saw it .. 4-2 aggregate win and were through to the next round. He's been dropping a few sitters lately hasn't he .. worrying.
Perhaps that's what needs to happen MVF, go for more drinks breaks and we'll score more! Doesn't sound a convincing win, but it's the result that matters. MH still has some hard work to do by the sound of it. Glad Elano got on the scoring sheet, and assisted by Robinho, that's the sign of a great striker, unselfish. And SWP, he saved us again. Not looking forward to the Liverpool match. I'm not working this week-end, so I'll be watching, hiding behind a cushion (like watching a horror film!). Setanta are showing it LIVE at 10am. Come on City
Haha. I was on another city forum, they told me to go away again after that ... i come back and Shauny immediately scores !!! lol. Unfortunately it didn't work a third time . You really that worried about Liverpool Lynne ? I honestly, of the "top four" sides, i think we can take them. They rely on Torres (who won't be playing) and Gerrard a LOT. It'll be a lot more open, which will help our four amigos (Jo, Robinho, Elano and Sweeep .. after tonight i am sure he is a born and bred brazilian .. some of the stuff he did was pure magic). It should be a good game. I'd either get Elano playing off Jo, or get Sturridge in there (although MH prefers Evans for some reason)
Both goals were stupendous, but especially Elano's! That look from Robinho was incredible. SWP amazes me how valuable an asset he has become for us. 2-1 scoreline isn't convincing, but nevertheless I am pumped we're advancing.
Fantastic forward play for both goals, SWP is Brazilian and has sky blue blood running through his veins! I suppose he had to leave City, in order to come back and realise where his true 'home' is and come into his own once again. He missed us and we, certainly missed him. Yep, concerned about the game against Liverpool, stats and all that and our current form (or lack of it, compared to the display against Pompei - where's the magic gone?).
Our Group. FC Schalke Paris Saint Germain Manchester City Racing Santander FC Twente. Good group, but i think we can progress.
I think this is perhaps the toughest or the second toughest group in the UEFA Cup. None of these teams are pushovers and they are all from good leagues. I really hope we rise to the occasion.