City suffer Euro frustration

Hughes' men hang on for a point at Eastlands

Last updated: 3rd December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

City suffer Euro frustration

Jo: Not at his best

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Manchester City suffered a frustrating night in Group A of the Uefa Cup as they were fortunate to secure a 0-0 stalemate with Paris St Germain at Eastlands.

With qualification for the knockout stages already assured, City manager Mark Hughes opted not to risk his star trio of Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Micah Richards.

Unfortunately for City, the tactic had an adverse impact as young forward Daniel Sturridge wasted the best chance of a forgettable first half in the opening minutes.

Peguy Luyindula was lively in attack for PSG, when compared to City's £18million signing Jo, but he should have done better when shooting at the feet of home goalkeeper Joe Hart after the interval.

Frenchman Paul Le Guen introduced his principal forwards Ludovic Giuly and Guillaume Hoarau as PSG finished strongly, but City managed to hang on for a point.

Hughes saw his side, who lost the Manchester derby at the weekend, maintain their unbeaten run in the group stages but the Welshman must have been alarmed at how wasteful they were in the opening stages.

The first chance fell to Sturridge in the fifth minute when Elano, who suffered an injury early in the second half, released him with a defence-splitting pass.

Sturridge raced on but the ball got away from him and goalkeeper Mickael Landreau was able to make the clearance.

Unconvincing

The youngster then got on the end of a cross from Javier Garrido but as he shaped to shoot the ball was taken off his toes.

Elano tried his luck with a free-kick from an acute angle in the 31st minute but only succeeded in sending his unconvincing effort wide of the target.

PSG were showing little ambition and looked content to play on the counter, even though they need points to advance to the last 32.

Stephen Ireland tried to put Darius Vassell away in the 41st minute but put too much weight on the pass and Landreau booted the ball to safety.

Then Zabaleta picked out Jo but his weak header from close range did not give the goalkeeper too much difficulty.

Two minutes later, Landreau did well to parry Zabaleta's effort around the post after Vassell had pulled the ball back.

PSG responded immediately and former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman was clear in the penalty area but Tal Ben Haim made a superb block on the stroke of half-time.

Sturridge then tried his luck on goal in the 48th minute but his effort whistled past the post.

Off target

PSG hit back nine minutes later when Luyindula stung goalkeeper Joe Hart's fingers with a 25-yard drive.

Vassell was wasteful a minute later after substitute Benjani Mwaruwari and Ireland linked up.

Play broke down the other end and Kezman, on loan to PSG from Fenerbahce, skipped past Ireland, only to send a poor shot off target.

City were caught napping in the 63rd minute and Luyindula raced clear only for Hart to divert his effort to safety.

PSG had suddenly stepped up the pace and the impressive Luyindula released Hoarau in the 73rd minute.

But he somehow clipped his shot the wrong side of the post when it seemed easier to score.

Hoarau then got clear in the 82nd minute, only to send his cross behind Luyindula and City held out to finish on level terms.

Manchester CityTeam StatisticsParis Saint Germain
0Goals0
01st Half Goals0
3Shots on Target2
7Shots off Target5
2Blocked Shots4
3Corners3
12Fouls16
4Offsides11
0Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
85.1Passing Success77.7
16Tackles24
68.8Tackles Success79.2
61.2Possession38.8
52.3Territorial Advantage47.7

Manchester CityTeam StatisticsParis Saint Germain
0Goals0
01st Half Goals0
3Shots on Target2
7Shots off Target5
2Blocked Shots4
3Corners3
12Fouls16
4Offsides11
0Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
85.1Passing Success77.7
16Tackles24
68.8Tackles Success79.2
61.2Possession38.8
52.3Territorial Advantage47.7
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