AaB 2-0 City: Blues Advance on PKs After Disgraceful Effort

March 20, 2009 by kartik
Filed under: UEFA Cup 

AaB came into Thursday’s second leg with spring in their steps and quality and determination not shown in the match last week at Eastlands. Energi Nord Arena was a superb venue for the match and the atmosphere had the feel of an FA Cup tie at a lower league side’s home venue.

Robinho’s below par form continued and the play of Shaun Wright Phillps and later Elano bordered on embarrassing. Stephen Ireland as he has been so often this season was City’s only real attacking threat, but his quality could not help spur forward an otherwise lackluster affect. City only had to protect a 2-0 scoreline but failed to do so.

AaB made two critical second half substitutions which changed the game. Siyabonga Nomvethe came on just after halftime and helped open up City defense, and Marcus Tracey a player I covered while he was competing at the college level the United States came on in the 77th minute and further stretched City’s defense.

Strangely, with Robinho so ineffective and Wright Phillps evidently taking the day off Mark Hughes did not swap an attacker for a defender to close out the match when the opposition brought on two attacking players. Thus AaB created four goal scoring opportunities after minute 80, resulting in one clean goal and one spot kick goal, and the tie was drawn level on aggregate.

Extra Time was a one sided affair with the Danish side dominating play but failing to get a winning goal. Shay Given, one of the best keepers in the world then made two PK saves in the shootout to carry City to the quarterfinals.

Despite the “victory” it is difficult to be encouraged by City’s prospects against any remaining UEFA Cup participant after such a poor display of football against an over matched side. Mark Hughes had his tactics all wrong late today and that is sure to add fuel to the “sack Hughes” movement that seems to be gaining steam with time.


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Comments

7 Comments on AaB 2-0 City: Blues Advance on PKs After Disgraceful Effort

  1. Les on Fri, 20th Mar 2009 18:35

    2. We are shocking.

  2. Roger on Sat, 21st Mar 2009 3:00

    3. Hughes got his tactics all wrong. Why play a 4-5-1 if you are protecting a road lead? How about a 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-2? Then not pulling attack minded midfielders off when we were trying to kill the game? He needs to be sacked.

  3. MMSK on Sun, 22nd Mar 2009 19:42

    4. After today, Hughes has lost the plot. What a disgrace even though we secured 3 points.

    I think he must be sacked.

  4. Robinho is a Donkey on Mon, 23rd Mar 2009 20:58

    5. This guy was really worth 100 million Euros of whatever he was bought for?

    He is terrible!

  5. Cali Comet on Tue, 24th Mar 2009 21:08

    6. Any thoughts on Sunderland or the drug problem for Robinho?

  6. oredgeoptom on Sat, 4th Apr 2009 7:18

    7. Great site this mancityblog.com and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here and this this post is exactly what I am interested in. I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor :)

  7. AlumsPseus on Fri, 10th Apr 2009 21:39

    8. nice site this mancityblog.com excellent to see you have what I am actually looking for here and this this post is exactly what I am interested in. I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor :)

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