Losing 1-3 to Hamburg may end Manchester's UEFA dream
Losing 1-3 to Hamburg may end Manchester's UEFA dreamManchester City manager Mark Hughes saw his side make a stunning start in the UEFA Cup quarter-final then suddenly implode at the Nordbank Arena.
Stephen Ireland's opener after only 35 seconds only prompted an onslaught from Hamburg, who will take a two-goal cushion into the return leg at Eastlands next week.
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tackled! Hamburg's Collin Benjamin, (left) and Manchester City's Robinho challenge for the ball during their UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg match in Hamburg, Germany yesterday. Hamburg won
3-1.
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UEFA cup results |
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Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Marseille
Hamburg 3-1 Manchester City
Paris SG 0-0 Dynamo Kyiv
Werder Bremen 3-1 Udinese |
City's hopes of progress are hanging by a thread after another dismal away day despite a superb display by goalkeeper Shay Given.
Yet they could not have wished for a better beginning to the game. Ireland started and finished the move, picking out Robinho with a wonderful long ball. The Brazilian cut inside and released the midfielder, who had continued his run. Ireland showed little hesitation to drill a shot beyond goalkeeper Frank Rost for his 11th goal of the season to leave Hamburg stunned.
The hosts responded and Given made a marvellous point-blank save from Mladen Petric in the fifth minute.
Three minutes later Michael Gravgaard forced another superb block from Given before Hamburg equalised.
Joris Mathijsen peeled away from his marker following a corner from Piotr Trochowski and although Given got a hand to the ball he could not prevent the defender scoring.
Hamburg almost took the lead in the 21st minute but Jonathan Pitroipa's header came back off the top of the bar.
City launched a swift counter-attack in the 29th minute and Bellamy found Sturridge at the back post but he sent his header over the bar.
The home side maintained the momentum and took the lead in the 63rd minute when Micah Richards was adjudged to have handled Mathijsen's effort. Trochowski stepped up and slotted his penalty home for 2-1.
Hamburg made it 3-1 after 79 minutes when substitute Jose Guerrero scored at the back post after being left unmarked following a cross from Trochowski.
