Source: Daily_Mail
Dynamo Kiev 2 Manchester City 0: Andriy Shevchenko shows he still has the knack
A freezing night in Ukraine saw two former heroes of Milan come in from the cold. One, Andriy Shevchenko, made his point to dent Manchester City's Europa League hopes. The other, Mario Balotelli, apparently could not get off the pitch fast enough.[LNB]It will take some doing but City can still reach the quarter-finals despite seeing Oleg Gusev add to Shevchenko's first-half strike and give Dynamo a commanding two-goal advantage that will be difficult to overturn at Eastlands next week.[LNB]Whether Roberto Mancini can tame the temperamental Balotelli is a different matter as the striker gave his manager more problems this time claiming to be have suffered an allergic reaction to grass.[LNB] Poacher's finish: 34-year-old Andriy Shevchenko beats Aleksandar Kolarov and Joe Hart[LNB]It was always going to be anuncomfortable night for the former Inter Milan striker. Deprived of his[LNB]MATCH FACTSDYNAMO KIEV (4-4-2): Shovkovskiy 6; Danilo Silva 5, Khacheridi 6, Yussuf 6, Popov 5; Gusev 7, Eremenko 6, Vukojevic 6, Yarmolenko 7; Shevchenko 8 (Ninkovic 88min), Milevskiy 6. Subs not used: Koval, Betao, Garmash, Kravets, Leandro Almeida, Guilherme. Booked: Yussuf.[LNB]MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Hart 5; Richards 5, Kompany 6, Lescott 6, Zabaleta 6; Kolarov 7 (Wright-Phillips 82), Barry 6, Y Toure 6; Balotelli 6 (Tevez 57, 6), Dzeko 5, Silva 7. Subs not used: Taylor, Boateng, Vieira, De Jong, Boyata.Booked: Balotelli, Tevez.[LNB]Referee: Florian Meyer (Germany) 6.[LNB]trusty snood following FIFA's decision to ban the garment, he had tobrave temperatures of minus six degrees in just gloves and tights.[LNB]Another below-par first-half performance was followed by his non-appearance for the second period.Confusion reigned as City kicked off with only 10 men and City coachDavid Platt was sent to search for the absent star.[LNB]Balotelli finally emerged but seemedto be protesting with City's medical staff about being made to play onand then appeared to be sick by the side of the pitch.[LNB]Mancini was unmoved, Balotellistayed on but only for as long as it took him to pick up a needlessbooking from referee Florian Meyer for a foul on Ayila Yousshef. [LNB]It also forced Mancini's hand togrant Balotelli his wish and replace him with Carlos Tevez, who he hadhoped to keep on the bench following an exhausting run of games.[LNB] [LNB] Some things never change: Balotelli looked disinterested and was withdrawn in the second half[LNB]City blamed Balotelli's substitutionon an allergic reaction, yet it is one more bizarre episode in thechequered career of a young player with a history of disciplinaryissues. Balotelli could learn a lot from Shevchenko. The former ACMilan striker is still giving everything for the cause, even at the ageof 34, and was a real handful.[LNB]He may have struggled to make theimpression he would have wanted during his three years at Chelsea, butShevchenko did enough to damage City's European ambitions by making thebreakthrough in the 25th minute.[LNB]David Silva failed to cut out AndriyYarmolenko's cross from the right and Shevchenko got there before JoeHart, colliding with the City keeper as scored with a volley from fiveyards. It was a classic poacher's goal by Shevchenko and a hammer blowfor City after an assured start.[LNB] Pleased as punch: Oleh Gusev makes it2-0[LNB][LNB]Balotelli could have scored withinthe first two minutes when Aleksandar Kolarov's corner found himunmarked inside the box but could not keep his volley down.[LNB]Twice Kolarov could have done moreto test Olexandr Shovkovskiy in the first half, curling a free kickinto his arms from 25 yards and then turning to volley straight at thekeeper from edge of the box.[LNB]But that was about it as City grewworse as the game wore on. Balotelli disappeared and Edin Dezko was notfar behind. At one point Mancini remonstrated with his ?27millionsigning by the side of the pitch.[LNB] [LNB] Out in the cold: Substitute Carlos Tevez struggles to keep warm in Kiev[LNB]It could have been even worse afterShevchenko struck, as he volleyed another good chance over the bar fromthe edge of the box and Gusev cut inside Kolarov before firing wide. [LNB][LNB]It was Gusev who claimed Dynamo'ssecond goal in the 77th minute. There seemed little danger as a crossfrom the right was deflected high in the air, but Hart and MicahRichards hesitated and Gusev stole in, taking one touch before riflinga right-foot volley emphatically beyond the England keeper.[LNB]Hart came out to save from Gusev in the dying moments and deny Kiev the goal that would surely have put the tie beyond City.[LNB] Man City hotshot Dzeko: I won't be a flop like my hero ShevchenkoEUROPA LEAGUE LIVE: Dynamo Kiev v Manchester City 0 - all the action as it happenedAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Andriy Shevchenko, Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini, David Silva, Mario Balotelli Places: Milan, United Kingdom, Germany
