This ‘City’ not blue enough!
5 Oct 2012 3:21 AM GMT
BMario Balotelli’s last-minute penalty secured Manchester City a 1-1 Champions League draw with Borussia Dortmund that they scarcely deserved on Wednesday.
A goal from Marco Reus looked to be enough to secure victory for Jurgen Klopp’s team and leave a major dent in City’s hopes of progressing from Group D and into the knock-out phase.
But with just two minutes left Neven Subotic was penalised for handball and Balotelli converted from the spot to earn City a point that could prove crucial.
They now face a double-header against Ajax before hosting Real Madrid and then travelling to Dortmund for their final match.
But on this evidence Dortmund must be strong favourites to progress along with Real.
Klopp was delighted with his side’s vibrant display. ‘I have congratulated the team,’ said Klopp. ‘They produced a great game and it was fun to watch.’ However, Reus was disappointed with the outcome. ‘When you play like that you want to take away three points,’ he said.
On their last visit to England, Dortmund were easily beaten by Arsenal last season but Klopp’s side looked a far more mature side in the opening period at the Etihad Stadium. Samir Nasri had a shot saved by Roman Weidenfeller after just 25 seconds. But the Germans were soon in the ascendancy.
Robert Lewandowski headed wide from a Marcel Schmelzer cross and did the same with a ball in from deep from fellow Pole Lukasz Piszcek.
David Silva has struggled since the turn of the year but the Spaniard looked on form again, clipping over the top for Sergio Aguero, who was denied by Weidenfeller before. Silva created another fine opportunity when he drifted in from the right and guided a pass through for Aguero, whose effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.
Yet another patient Dortmund passing move resulted in Gotze being played in behind the City defence and he was only denied by a fine block from Hart.
1-0 up Lewandowski should have killed the game but he prodded wide.
But with two minutes remaining, Balotelli made no mistake from the spot to pull City level.
RONALDO SINKS AJAX, ARSENAL WIN
Cristiano Ronaldo was in treble form as Real Madrid set up a stylish 4-1 win at Ajax on Wednesday to maintain their perfect start to the fledgling Champions League campaign.
Ronaldo was joined on the score-sheet by Karim Benzema, with Ajax’s lone strike coming from Niklas Moisander.
Lukas Podolski maintained Arsenal’s 100 percent start to their campaign as the Gunners recovered from a lacklustre opening to beat Greek side Olympiakos 3-1 on Wednesday.
Gervinho’s opener was cancelled out by Olympiakos striker Kostas Mitroglou. After that Lukas Podolski scored for the hosts as Aaron Ramsey added the third at stoppage time.
Malaga blanked Anderlecht 3-0. FC Porto handed PSG a 1-0 defeat at home.
A goal from Marco Reus looked to be enough to secure victory for Jurgen Klopp’s team and leave a major dent in City’s hopes of progressing from Group D and into the knock-out phase.
But with just two minutes left Neven Subotic was penalised for handball and Balotelli converted from the spot to earn City a point that could prove crucial.
They now face a double-header against Ajax before hosting Real Madrid and then travelling to Dortmund for their final match.
But on this evidence Dortmund must be strong favourites to progress along with Real.
Klopp was delighted with his side’s vibrant display. ‘I have congratulated the team,’ said Klopp. ‘They produced a great game and it was fun to watch.’ However, Reus was disappointed with the outcome. ‘When you play like that you want to take away three points,’ he said.
On their last visit to England, Dortmund were easily beaten by Arsenal last season but Klopp’s side looked a far more mature side in the opening period at the Etihad Stadium. Samir Nasri had a shot saved by Roman Weidenfeller after just 25 seconds. But the Germans were soon in the ascendancy.
Robert Lewandowski headed wide from a Marcel Schmelzer cross and did the same with a ball in from deep from fellow Pole Lukasz Piszcek.
David Silva has struggled since the turn of the year but the Spaniard looked on form again, clipping over the top for Sergio Aguero, who was denied by Weidenfeller before. Silva created another fine opportunity when he drifted in from the right and guided a pass through for Aguero, whose effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.
Yet another patient Dortmund passing move resulted in Gotze being played in behind the City defence and he was only denied by a fine block from Hart.
1-0 up Lewandowski should have killed the game but he prodded wide.
But with two minutes remaining, Balotelli made no mistake from the spot to pull City level.
RONALDO SINKS AJAX, ARSENAL WIN
Cristiano Ronaldo was in treble form as Real Madrid set up a stylish 4-1 win at Ajax on Wednesday to maintain their perfect start to the fledgling Champions League campaign.
Ronaldo was joined on the score-sheet by Karim Benzema, with Ajax’s lone strike coming from Niklas Moisander.
Lukas Podolski maintained Arsenal’s 100 percent start to their campaign as the Gunners recovered from a lacklustre opening to beat Greek side Olympiakos 3-1 on Wednesday.
Gervinho’s opener was cancelled out by Olympiakos striker Kostas Mitroglou. After that Lukas Podolski scored for the hosts as Aaron Ramsey added the third at stoppage time.
Malaga blanked Anderlecht 3-0. FC Porto handed PSG a 1-0 defeat at home.
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