A perfect Shay: Given is the hero as City win on penalties to reach quarter-finals

20 March 2009 07:41
Shay Given rescued Manchester City's season as they scraped through to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals on penalties against Denmark's AaB Aalborg. The goalkeeper, who joined in the transfer window from Newcastle, saved twice in the shootout after Mark Hughes's side threw away a two-goal first leg lead in the final six minutes of normal time. After another woeful away team performance, Given palmed away spot-kicks from Thomas Augustinussen and Luton Shelton to repay a large chunk of the £7.5million City paid for him in January. The manager was furious with his side after his safety-first policy failed spectacularly when Shelton and Michael Jakobsen's penalty drew Aalborg level at 2-2 on aggregate, and hero Given admitted City are lucky to be in the draw. He said: 'It is a relief. It should have been dead and buried. We did it the hard way. We could have made it easier for ourselves. Happily I saved a couple. We didn't play at our best but we are still in the draw.'  

Source: Daily_Mail