City progress after penalty shoot-out drama
Shay Given the hero for Man City
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Thursday, 19, Mar 2009 10:57
Shay Given saved two penalties as Manchester City overcame Aalborg 4-3 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup.
City looked to be easing through as they maintained their 2-0 lead from the first-leg with only six minutes left of the game.
But they conceded late on as Luton Shelton stabbed home for close range for Aalborg and then in injury-time Ched Evans gave away penalty and Michael Jakobsen converted to take the tie into extra-time and then penalties.
It was left to Given to be the City hero as he saved from Thomas Augustinussen and Luton Shelton to make sure his side progressed.
The first-half was a dire affair, but that wouldn't have displeased Manchester City as a goalless draw would have seen them progress.
City could have put the tie beyond Aalborg with a 3-0 aggregate scoreline had Evans been more accurate in front of goal. The striker was put through on goal by a clever defence-splitting ball from Stephen Ireland, but Evans fired his shot way over the bar.
Aalborg enjoyed large spells of possession, but rarely threatened the City goal. The Danish side however thought they should have had a penalty when Javier Garrido clumsily brought down Andreas Johansson in the area, but the referee waved away Aalborg's appeals.
Robinho was unlucky not to score as he saw his shot come back off the crossbar. But it didn't really seem to matter as City looked to be strolling into the next round.
But the tie was turned on its head with only six minutes left. First the City defence failed to pick up Shelton and he fired home from close range to give Aalborg a glimmer of hope. Then in injury-time Evans stupidly handled in the penalty area from an Aalborg corner.
Jakobsen stepped up for Aalborg and kept his nerve to smash the ball past Given and send the home fans wild, while City boss Mark Hughes was left fuming on the touchline.
Very little happened in extra-time with both teams looking completely shattered and seem to settle for penalties.
With Evans and Elano converting for City the shoot-out was tied at 2-2. Given then dived to his right to save from Augustinussen. Shaun Wright-Phillips and Richard Dunne scored for City and Given then saved from Shelton to book his side's place in the quarter-finals.