Man City 0-0 Dynamo Kiev (3-1 agg): Injuries sour City’s progress to last eight
Manchester City reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history after a goalless second leg gave them a 3-1 aggregate win against Dynamo Kiev.
By Oliver Yew
Leading 3-1 from the first leg, things did not go entirely to plan for Manuel Pellegrini and his side, who lost both Vincent Kompany, who suffered a fourth calf injury of the season, and his central defensive partner Nicolas Otamendi in the first half.
Joe Hart celebrates as Man City reach the Champions League last eight for the first time in their history
In what was a drab affair, chances were few and far between until Jesus Navas struck the foot of the post for hosts just after the hour mark.
Joe Hart was called into action late on to deny Vitali Buyalsky and Olexsandr Yakovenko, but in truth Pellegrini’s men were rarely troubled as they booked their place in Friday’s quarter-final draw.
However, the loss of both Kompany and Otamendi will be a huge worry for Pellegrini with a tricky run-in ahead, starting with Sunday’s Manchester derby, live on Sky Sports.
Pellegrini was able to call on the services of Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta as he made two changes from the 0-0 draw at Norwich at the weekend.
Manuel Pellegrini (L) consoles Vincent Kompany
But the hosts could not have got off to a worst start as Kompany pulled up with what appeared to be another calf injury after slipping attempting to clear the ball.
The City captain went to ground and signalled straight away, before trudging off the field to be replaced by Eliaquim Mangala.
There were further problems for Pellegrini in the 16th minute when Nicolas Otamendi went down injured after a heavy collision with Buyalsky.
Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi (L) reacts as he receives medical treatment
The Argentina international, who booked for re-entering the field without the referee’s permission, tried to run off the injury but was eventually replaced Martin Demichelis midway through the first half to compound City’s defensive problems.
Clear-cut opportunities were hard to come by in what was a subdued atmosphere at the Etihad, but City were doing just enough, as Hart comfortably saved Lukasz Teodorczyk weak shot.
Yaya Toure (R) vies with Dynamo Kiev’s Austrian defender Aleksandar Dragovic
At the other end, City’s best chance came when Navas burst through the Kiev defence, but the Spaniard then overhit his pass for Zabaleta, leaving the crowd frustrated once again.
Despite the aggregate score, the visitors were not putting up much of a fight and were hardly threatening City’s makeshift defence.
City were better after the break and Toure was at the heart of most of it. The midfielder curled a free-kick over the crossbar, before setting up Aguero, who dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Minutes later, Toure again attempted to drag his side towards victory, picking out Navas, who shot across goal and hit the foot of the post.
Navas returned the favour in the 73rd minute, pulling the ball back for Toure but City’s stand-in captain could only hit his shot straight at goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy.
Kiev rallied late on as Hart saved efforts from Hart saved from Andriy Yarmolenko, Yakovenko and Buyalsky, but it was job done for City, albeit at a cost.
Source:SkySports
