Source: SKY_Sports
Man City v Aalborg - Live!
That's it and it's advantage City heading into next week's second leg. They took their foot off the gas in the second half when the whole tie was there for the taking so hopefully they won't regret that next week. Robinho's fitness will be a worry, particularly if it's a recurrence of his ankle injury.[LNB]90+3 Free-kick to Aalborg with Zabaleta penalised for a foul on Caca. Robinho hobbling with what could well be an ankle injury.[LNB]90+3 Bogelund tries to knock the ball in from the right but it's straight into the grateful arms of Given.[LNB]90+2 Caca's ball in is headed clear by Evans at the front post.[LNB]90+1 Curth tries to dink a ball over the top for Bogelund but Onuoha clears, at the expense of a late corner despite Zabaleta's best efforts.[LNB]89 Late throw for City deep in Aalborg territory as we meander towards three minutes of added time.[LNB]88 Aalborg press forward down the right and work a shooting opportunity for Caca but he snatches at it and skews it wide.[LNB]87 City make a change, with Wright-Phillips replaced by Kelvin Etuhu.[LNB]86 Lasse Nielsen replaces Jakobsen.[LNB]86 Free-kick to City as Robinho is brought down around 10 yards inside the Aalborg half.[LNB]85 Risgaard curls the free-kick over the wall, but it sails over the bar. Given was beaten if he could get dip on it.[LNB]84 Jakobsen off on a stretcher. No replacement yet.[LNB]83 Going to be a substitution here - Jakobsen can't continue.[LNB]82 Jakobsen just receiving some treatment.[LNB]81 Free-kick just on the edge of the 'D' outside the City box as Zabaleta is penalised. Real danger this.[LNB]80 Caca picks out substitute Curth with the free-kick, unmarked at the back post, but his header is a poor one and City clear.[LNB]79 Free-kick to Aalborg down in the corner in City territory as Bridge is penalised.[LNB]78 Evans goes in clumsily on Zaza in an attempt to divert an angled ball goalwards. Free-kick to Aalborg but nothing more - and rightly so. The Aalborg players weren't too impressed, but it was nothing more than committed.[LNB]77 Robinho and Elano attempt an all-Brazilian one-two in and around the Aalborg box. The former tumbles to the ground and the City fans go up for a penalty. Robinho doesn't even appeal.[LNB]76 Aalborg bring Risgaard on for Enevoldsen. Probably a wise move as he just seemed to be losing his rag after being cautioned.[LNB]75 Free-kick to City just inside the Aalborg half as Richards is fouled by Augustinussen.[LNB]74 Evans whips a ball in from the right towards Ireland but Kristensen clears. Should have been quicker coming in that, but Evans delayed.[LNB]73 Lovely build-up play from City as Elano takes a long ball down and lays it out to Wright-Phillips in the blink of an eye. The England winger lashes in a shot, but it's wide. Should have done better.[LNB]71 Aalborg eventually hoist the free-kick in but Dunne and Onuoha combine to clear the danger.[LNB]70 Second booking now - this time Elano for delaying the taking of an Aalborg free-kick. Stupid.[LNB]69 First booking of the game - Enevoldsen booked for pulling down Wright-Phillips. That rules him out of the second leg.[LNB]68 So close to a third for City. Ireland dinks a lovely ball through to Robinho, which he stands up for Richards. He heads down and the ball's hacked off the line...and in any case Robinho was offside. So it wasn't really that close.[LNB]67 Bit of a lull here. Reminds me of those England games when Eriksson would make substitutions aplenty and the flow of the game would go.[LNB]66 Aalborg bring Jeppe Curth on for Due.[LNB]65 Ireland snaps into the tackle deep in Aalborg territory and works the ball to Robinho. He tries to cut it back from the byline but it's harried clear by Aalborg. Evans just marked out of it there.[LNB]64 Elano shows good fighting spirit as he gets a foot in to win the ball back in midfield. Wins a free-kick as well.[LNB]63 Caicedo is the man to make way - don't forget he's struggling with a groin problem - as Evans enters the fray.[LNB]62 Ched Evans on his way for City.[LNB]61 Lovely build-up play from Aalborg but Dunne appears to have adopted a 'Thou shall not pass' mentality for the second half and blocks it clear. Strong defending.[LNB]60 Wright-Phillips bursts into the Aalborg box down the right but just overhits at the crucial moment and Zaza gathers. Always going to be a danger with his pace is Wright-Phillips.[LNB]59 Robinho tries to slide a ball down the inside-left channel for Ireland but just overhits. That duo look to have built a really good understanding.[LNB]58 Sev wants to know: "Are the fans singing like they should be with this scoreline? I don't want to have to book a flight over there to show em how to sing for our team." Generally pretty flat in truth, Sev. Think there's about 25,000 in.[LNB]57 Ireland curls a lovely ball over the top to Wright-Phillips and he forces a corner off Kristensen. Ireland growing in influence in this one, just as Doug Cook predicted early doors.[LNB]56 The corner comes to nothing and Aalborg look to break, though it's pretty laboured and eventually it's played straight to Given.[LNB]55 Another dreadful pass from the Aalborg ranks and City break quickly. Ireland looks to have worked a shooting chance but is well closed down. He slides the ball to Robinho, but his shot is pushed behind by Zaza.[LNB]54 Ireland picks up the ball in midfield again but Elano squanders possession all too easily when it's worked into his path.[LNB]53 Shelton's backheel falls into the path of Due just on the edge of the City box, but his shot is skewed well wide.[LNB]52 Ireland coming into the game more and more now. This time he and Robinho combine to set up a long-range effort for Zabaleta, but his shot is simple enough for Zaza.[LNB]51 This corner is met powerfully by Onuoha but he heads over. Should have done better with an unmarked header from seven yards out.[LNB]51 Corner whipped in towards the back post and Zaza turns it behind for another flag-kick, this time from the opposite side.[LNB]50 Ireland powers down the left and gets a cross in but there's no City players up with him and Jakobsen turns it behind after almost gifting it straight back to Ireland.[LNB]49 Ian Ashman is on from Mallorca and he's not satisfied with two goals. "Let's have more, say the Spanish City fans."[LNB]48 Still good stuff from Aalborg, but they overplay on the edge of the City box and Richards whacks it clear.[LNB]47 Bright opening from the Danes in the second half. Shelton looks to work himself some space on the edge of the City box but Dunne blocks his passage to goal.[LNB]46 Zabaleta snaps into a couple of tackles as Aalborg look to build from the break. Apparently Caicedo is struggling with a bit of groin trouble, though he has made it out for the second half.[LNB]45 Back under way at the COMS, with City getting us going again.[LNB] Kenneth McGawley from Wetwang wonders quite rightly: "How can the referee not give the Robinho foul - it was a clear penalty?"[LNB] Sev has rallied the MCFCUSASC (which may, or may not, include "depressed Fulham fan" Nick Moger - who supports all English teams in Europe) to watch a re-run of the match at 8pm at the Lion and Eagle in Boca Raton. Enjoy.[LNB] A return trip to Sky Bet offers few surprises with the home side 2-0 up. City are 1/40 for this one with the draw 16/1 and an Aalborg victory 80/1.[LNB] That's the last act of the half. Aalborg have had their chances but if City want to, they can finish this tie tonight.[LNB]45 Dunne meets Elano's corner but just can't get enough on it. Robinho showboats with plenty of stepovers and goes crashing to the turf. The referee points...for a goal-kick. City livid - and TV replays show they are right to be so. Definite foul.[LNB]44 From a Given bowl-out, Ireland works his way forward towards the Aalborg box before sliding it to Robinho. His shot is deflected behind for a corner.[LNB]43 Aalborg's passing is at times sublime and at times downright ridiculous. This time it's Due with one of the latter as he attempts a crazy crossfield ball that Elano picks up.[LNB]42 Caicedo tries to play in Robinho down the inside-left channel, but just overhits the ball and Zaza clears.[LNB]41 Due hoists a free-kick into the City box but it's cleared by Zabaleta.[LNB]40 Elano's corner is worked back out to Wright-Phillips. He slides it across for Robinho, who diverts his shot wide from a tricky angle from no more than two yards. He's offside in any case, though trying to convert that with his left rather than his right was always going to make it harder than it should have been.[LNB]39 Ireland latches onto a miscontrol centrally and lays it out to Robinho. He sells Due a complete dummy to leave the winger in a heap - but Zaza blocks his shot.[LNB]38 Aalborg looking a bit more confident on the ball of late. They're struggling to break down City, though. And this time even Robinho helps out at the back, pumping clear from the byline.[LNB]37 The second corner is cleared by Ireland and City look to spring on the counter. Wright-Phillips picks it up but just can't find Ireland galloping through the middle and City have to settle for a throw.[LNB]36 Due drills the corner along the ground to Jakobsen. He attempts an acrobatic effort...and has to be content with another corner.[LNB]35 Corner to Aalborg.[LNB]34 Zaza has to race first to the edge of his area - then beyond it - as Caicedo attempts to latch onto a ball over the top. Eventually Aalborg somehow get the ball out for a City throw but that was nearly so much worse. The Danes look very iffy at the back when put under pressure.[LNB]33 Gareth Williams and Ian Scott are in the MCFCUSASC - as I've catchily named the new club formed tonight. Bet there are a few US office workers casting strange glances at each other as their workmates jump around cheering the City goals![LNB]32 Aalborg should be back in it. The ball pinballs somewhat to the feet of Augustinussen off Elano but his snapshot from just inside the City box is wide. If that was on target it was surely a goal.[LNB]31 Make no mistake about it, City haven't been at their best here but Aalborg could well be here for the taking. If City can keep up their intensity there's every chance they can wrap it up tonight.[LNB]30 GOAL - WRIGHT-PHILLIPS. Aalborg go long from the free-kick but it's cleared easily and Ireland picks it up. He lays it on to Wright-Phillips, who advances towards the edge of the Aalborg box and lets fly with a well-placed curling effort with the outside of his right foot.[LNB]30 Corner comes in but the referee spots something centrally and it's a free-kick to Aalborg.[LNB]29 Lovely angled ball from Robinho finds Richards advancing down the right but Zaza is out quickly and turns it behind for a corner. Looked like Richards may be half a yard offside there, but it's a corner.[LNB]28 Elano tricks his way into the Aalborg box down the left but Johansson does well to track him all the way and clear. Sloppy delivery from the Aalborg central defender, though, as he invites more pressure.[LNB]27 Ball whipped in by Elano and met by Onuoha but he heads wide.[LNB]26 Free-kick to City as Wright-Phillips is blocked off by Kristensen. Bit of a soft one that, but it's a chance for City to get the ball in to the Aalborg box from out on the right.[LNB]25 Aalborg enjoy a decent spell in possession until City clear to Caicedo and he's fouled from behind by Jakobsen on halfway.[LNB]24 Shelton springs past Dunne and chases onto a ball into the City box but he's pulled back for a foul on the Irishman. Think Given would have got there first in any case.[LNB]23 Wright-Phillips breaks into Aalborg territory and tries to slide the ball across to Elano, but it dribbles away from him as he in turn tries to dink it on to the advancing Bridge.[LNB]22 Corner whipped in but it's a poor one and sails straight out for a goal-kick on the other side of the goal without ever going near an Aalborg player.[LNB]21 Aalborg definitely gaining in confidence here. Johansson slides a lovely ball through for Caca, who nips past Onuoha before firing in a shot which Given has to turn behind.[LNB]20 Corner comes to nothing. Disappointing that - they've got to make the most of these set-pieces, particularly as City just seem to have dropped their intensity a touch.[LNB]19 Nice work from Aalborg to get the ball whipped in from the right and Johansson gets a shot away which is blocked behind for a corner.[LNB]18 Terrible from Aalborg as they gift possession to City and Robinho. He races forward and lays it on to Caicedo, but the big striker just can't latch on to it and Zaza gathers.[LNB]17 City just gone a bit sloppy here. Another free-kick goes the way of Aalborg, though this time it's in their own half.[LNB]16 Free-kick whipped into the City box by Due. Johansson climbs on the edge of the six-yard area but the ball flies over the bar. Aalborg appeal for a corner and eventually the referee decides to award a goal-kick. Poor decision. It came off Dunne.[LNB]15 Free-kick to Aalborg in City territory as Dunne is penalised for a foul on Shelton. He's not happy, but the decision is made.[LNB]14 Wright-Phillips attempts an acrobatic flick to turn an angled Elano cross on to Caicedo but Aalborg clear. Augustinussen picks it up but passes it straight out for a throw. Sloppy.[LNB]13 Robinho and Ireland try to work a one-two just inside the Aalborg half but it comes to nothing. Ireland would have been better to delay the pass there as Robinho was baulked.[LNB]12 Decent chance for Aalborg. Johansson finds himself in space on the left-hand side of the City box and lays it across for Enevoldsen. He has Ireland on his shoulder but really should do better than blazing the ball high and wide.[LNB]11 Aalborg come forward down the left before working the ball out to the right but it ultimately comes to nothing. They do look to have settled now after that early setback, though they look troubled by Wright-Phillips down the right and Bridge down the left.[LNB]10 Clive Tysoe and Sev are the latest to sign up for the US branch of the City Supporters' Club. And Pete McNally's on from Israel. They get around these City fans don't they?![LNB]9 Aalborg looking rattled here - and City in the mood to take advantage. Bridge hares down the left and gets a cross in but it's hacked clear. The Danes are really on the back foot.[LNB]8 GOAL - CAICEDO. Great start for City. Ball worked in to Caicedo on the edge of the box, he turns past Jakobsen and slides the ball home to put the home side in front.[LNB]7 Wright-Phillips tries to skip away from his marker down the left but Kristensen - a late inclusion in the starting XI - does well to shepherd him away. City work it back to Caicedo in the centre, but his snapshot flies over.[LNB]6 Free-kick to Aalborg deep in their own half as Bridge is penalised for a foul on Due.[LNB]5 Richards powers forward from the back and slides the ball in for Wright-Phillips. He tries to get the cross in but it's half-cleared and when it's returned to the box, Caicedo is offside.[LNB]4 Decent possession football from Aalborg until they go long, a ball which Richards deals with comfortably enough...as Doug Cook adds his name to the US branch on the email.[LNB]3 City spring forward on the counter-attack and the ball is slid towards Wright-Phillips, but Zaza is out quickly to gather.[LNB]2 It's that man Caca posing a threat early on as Given has to race to the edge of his box to clear the danger after a poor back-header.[LNB]1 Very early days but a pretty subdued start from both sides. Just spotted there's a Caca in the Aalborg line-up. Insert your own gag here.[LNB]0 Aalborg get us under way.[LNB] The American branch of the City Supporters' Club is out in force tonight with Alex Brown, from Hot Springs, Arkansas, "rooting" for the men in blue.[LNB] 'Big T' is cheering on City from his office in the US of A. Stay tuned Big T, the players are leaving the tunnel...[LNB] You can send me emails to reece.killworth@bskyb.com - when time allows I'll publish the best.[LNB] For those who prefer their working out done for them, Robinho returns to the City starting line-up after missing out against Aston Vila. His return is one of two changes with Vincent Kompany and Nigel de Jong missing. With Micah Richards back from a hamstring strain, Pablo Zabaleta is pushed into a central midfield role alongside Stephen Ireland.[LNB] If you're looking to claw back some Cheltenham losses, our friends at Sky Bet go 1/2 the home win, 11/4 the draw and 13/2 for an Aalborg win. A more long-term outlook sees City at 1/4 to go through with Aalborg 11/4.[LNB] Our referee tonight is Alain Hamer from Luxembourg.[LNB] AaB line-up: Zaza, Bogelund, Beauchamp, Jakobsen, Kristensen, Augustinussen, Caca, Johansson, Enevoldsen, Due, Shelton. Subs: Kenneth Nielsen, Risgaard, Lasse Nielsen, Curth, Nomvethe, Tracy, Christensen.[LNB] The team news is in. Man City: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Zabaleta, Ireland, Elano, Robinho, Caicedo. Subs: Hart, Vassell, Etuhu, Garrido, Fernandes, Evans, Berti.[LNB] Evening all and welcome to our coverage for this UEFA Cup last-16 first-leg clash at the City of Manchester Stadium. The visitors have happy memories of their last trip to Manchester having held United to a 2-2 Champions League draw in December.[LNB]
