Manchester City out of UEFA Cup

After losing the opening leg 3-1 in their UEFA Cup match against Hamburg, Manchester City had a glimmer of hope in advancing as the tie ended to Eastlands. However those hopes ended as the Citizens could not overcome the two goal deficit in route to a bittersweet 2-1 victory.

José Guerrero was once again the slayer of Man City's dreams as twelve minutes in a Jonathan Pitroipa low cross wasn't cleared properly by Richard Dunne and the Peruvian international sent the ball in from just outside the six-yard box. With the all important "away" goal given away, City's chances were growing slim. Five minutes after the opening mark Piotr Trochowski was curiously adjudged to handling the ball in the area and the spot was pointed to. Elano quickly brought the match even as smoothly stuck the ball into the left side of the net. With City's task of needing a further two goals, the match was wide open and Mark Hughes displayed notable attack vision. After the Elano hammered the ball against the woodwork just before the break, Man City grabbed the two goal lead five minutes into the new half as Stephen Ireland provided Felipe Caicedo the ball and after creating space he drove the ball in with his left foot. Down by a goal in aggregate, City poured forward with a series of notable close calls. However in the final fifteen minutes they were forced to play a man down as Richard Dunne and the visitors made good use of the man advantage for the most part. Despite coming close late City could not find the much needed third goal and the match concluded 2-1.