Roma 0 - Man City 2: Nasris Stunner Sends Pellegrinis Men Into Knockout Stages SAMIR NASRI provided Manchester City with some Roma-therapy to help fire them into the Champions League knockout stages. The French ace produced a stunning second half strike before Pablo Zabaleta doubled the lead four minutes from time to crown a famous European night in the Olympic Stadium. Nasris first goal of the season on 60 minutes was worth the wait and left AS Romas own Champions League dream in ruins. The win was only Citys second of the campaign but still enough to see them qualify from the group stages for only the second time in their history. Pellegrini will be eternally grateful to Nasri and Zabaleta considering the big-spenders had to get the result they needed without four of their biggest stars. The Chilean suffered a huge blow before kick off when captain Vincent Kompany was ruled out. The Belgium star failed a late fitness test on a hamstring problem to make his sides task even harder. His absence meant Pellegrini was without his famous four of Kompany, Sergio Aguero (injured), Yaya Toure (suspended) and David Silva, who started on the bench. Frank Lampard also had to settle for a place on the bench for what could well have proved to be his last taste of Champions League football. This was the time for City to show their bottle and character when it mattered most. But it was Roma who made the better start, with Fernando forced into a desperate interception to block Gervinhos cross in the second minute. Moments later Joe Hart and Zabaleta somehow managed to keep out Kostas Manolass effort as Rudi Garcias men sensed an early breakthrough. Pellegrinis men needed to weather the storm and earned themselves a breather when Jesus Navass wicked ball flashed across the face of Romas goal. James Milner then saw his skidding drive fumbled by Morgan De Sanctis - but it was the hosts who looked far more dangerous. Garcias men piled forward again on 21 minutes and it took a superb fingertip save from Hart to keep out Gervinhos angled strike. City were living off half chances, with Edin Dzeko just failing to connect cleanly with Nasris near post cross. Six minutes before half time Gervinho threatened again, outpacing Gael Clichy only to shoot straight at Hart. Gervinho then had strong appeals for a penalty turned down as the pressure mounted on City. The former Arsenal star looked like a different player to the one who flopped at the Emirates. He weaved into the box amd tumbled under a challenge from Zabaleta, but referee Milorad Mazic waved play on. The longer the game went on the closer Roma edged towards a place in the knockout stages knowing a goalless draw might see them through. That was until Nasri pounced to deliver the killer blow but even then it wasnt all plain sailing, with Manolas hitting the post and Demichelis hacking off his own line before substitute Silva set up the chance for Zabaleta to kill-off the Italians once and for all. Roma (4-2-3-1): De Sanctis; Maicon (Florenzi 79), Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa, Holeba; Ljajic (Iturbe 67), Nainggolan, Keita, Gervinho, Pjanic; Totti (Destro 70). Subs: Curci, Strootman, De Rossi, Astori. Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Mangala,Clichy; Navas (Silva 67), Fernandinho; Fernando, Milner, Nasri (Kolarov 88); Dzeko. (Jovetic 78). Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Lampard, Boyata. Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia).
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:26:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015