Hart-stopping moment for City
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 28 August 2008
Manchester City made it through to the first round proper of the Uefa Cup on Thursday after overcoming FC Midtjylland on penalties, following a 1-0 second-leg win that forced the game into extra time and then on to spot-kicks.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, City struggled to get going in Denmark and, save for Midtjylland’s wastefulness in front of goal, should have been out of the competition after the 90 minutes.
However, thanks to the combination of Babajide Collins Babatunde’s poor finishing and Danny Califf’s own goal in the final minute of normal time, City were able to take the game to extra time.
There they seemed to find some sort of rhythm as Daniel Sturridge hit the bar after Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland had gone ever so close to extending their lead on the day. Frank Kristensen wrapped his foot round a volley that Joe Hart tipped over the bar in a late, late scare for City as the game went to spot-kicks.
Johnson was the first to miss for City as Lasse Heinze saved his effort, but Hart saved his team-mate's blushes by denying Jonas Borring immediately after. Hart then stopped Kolja Afriyie’s effort to allow Vedran Corluka to step up and send City through with his effort.
Micah Richards recovered from concussion in time to start the game for City, but even his presence failed to steady the visitors’ defence as they looked shaky from the off.
After Ireland had lashed an early volley wide, City almost fell behind when Tal Ben Haim’s misjudgement of a ball forward allowed Borring through for the home side. Hart was on hand however to save low to his right and deny the hosts what would have been a two-goal advantage in the tie after just eight minutes at the SAS Arena.
Midtjylland continued to ask questions of City on the back foot – Borring swerving a shot straight at Hart – whilst at the other end Hughes’s side lacked a final touch as Elano fired off a weak shot and Jo had a cross desperately scrambled clear.
Borring was a thorn in City’s side throughout, while Danny Olsen – the man who scored in the first leg – had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes but was denied by Michael Ball’s tackle. Martin Petrov forced a rare save out of Heinze as half time approached.
Things did not improve for City in the second period, even if they did get off to a slightly more promising start with Jo forcing a corner from which Petrov had a shot blocked. Ireland then put in a poor cross when he found himself in a great position following a counter attack, and City slipped back into struggle mode.
Mikkel Thygesen was just beaten to the ball by an alert Hart as City’s defence were caught napping again, and Babatunde headed no more than a foot wide as he was left to meet a corner unopposed.
Moments later Babatunde was foiled by Hart who was far more switched on than his back four, as the England Under-21 international bravely dived at the striker’s feet to smother the ball, and the Midtjylland forward was guilty of a poor finish when he was given a reprieve by the linesman when put through in an offside position.
Babatunde then made it a trio of missed chances when he sent an effort over the bar from close range as he tried to score with his knee inside the final 10 minutes.
Ched Evans – on as a late substitute for City – volleyed wide on the turn late in the day, and Claus Madsen’s cross from the right looked like it was about to be buried by Olsen, but the first-leg hero for Midtjylland mistimed his kick.
The home side’s profligacy in front of goal then slapped them in the face as, with a minute of normal time remaining, Ball’s cross from the left was glanced goalwards by Evans. Califf was unable to react in time as the ball flew off his head and into his own net in a cruel twist of fate.
Extra time it was, and for all their lack of potency in the 90 minutes City created two chances to snatch the lead inside the opening six minutes of the additional period. Johnson was put through one-on-one but shot straight at Heinze, and Ireland then headed wide at the far post when he looked certain to score.
The chances that lacked in normal time were flowing and Sturridge struck the bar with a rifled shot off the outside of his left boot, and Johnson went down easily looking for a penalty as he sought to avoid the game being decided by such a course of action.
Hart then denied Kristensen with a save as the substitute almost struck a late blow for Midtjylland, and the game was decided on penalties.
Evans and Petrov coolly tucked away their turns before Johnson’s poor effort was stopped, but Hart’s heroics set Corluka up for glory and the Croatian duly obliged.
Man City: Hart 8.5*, Ben-Haim 5.5 (Hamann 58, 6.5), Richards 7, Dunne 7, Michael Ball 7, Corluka 6.5, Johnson 6, Ireland 6.5, Petrov 8, Elano 6.5 (Sturridge 57, 7), Jo 6.5 (Evans 80, 6.5)
| FC Midtjylland |
Team Statistics |
Manchester City |
| 0 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
11 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 5 |
Corners |
5 |
| 18 |
Fouls |
19 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 67.1 |
Passing Success |
73.7 |
| 42 |
Tackles |
38 |
| 73.8 |
Tackles Success |
73.7 |
| 48.2 |
Possession |
51.8 |
| 48 |
Territorial Advantage |
52 |
|