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Stuart Pearce knows all about missing penalties and puts his arms around Robbie Fowler's shoulders and applauds the City faithful.
Joy for Boro who hang on to earn the Uefa Cup place but heartbreak for City who are denied by Mark Schwarzer and miss out on the competition.
A direct City hoof the ball to David James who is clumsily dealt with by Stuart Parnaby but the referee spots a handball and City have a dubious penalty with just seconds left. But Robbie Fowler's spot-kick is sensationally saved by Mark Schwarzer.
David James concedes a free kick and as Boro lauch into the City danger area, Nicky Weaver is forced into his first save to deny Stewart Downing.
Nicky Weaver comes on for Claudio Reyna and goes in goal while David James goes upfield and plays as a striker!
City press forward again forcing Boro to concede another corner taken by Robbie Fowler. This time Ben Thatcher gets his head to it but the danger is blocked in a crowded box.
It's getting frantic and another double substitution sees James Morrison replaced by Michael Reiziger and Danny Mills replaced by Lee Croft
This is getting edgy as both sides have Uefa qualification in their sights. But City need the win and are almost ahead when another Robbie Fowler inswinging corner finds Danny Mills but his close-range header flies over the bar.
A good spell now for Boro who win two corners in succession and Guidoni Junior Doriva's shot is caught by David James.
Ray Parlour has been fortunate not to pick up a second booking and has been replaced by James Morrison
Ray Parlour fouls Claudio Reyna and is booked. The Free kick is curled right-footed by Joey Barton but again Mark Schwarzer is a safe pair of hands.
City are attacking again and win a corner which Fowler delivers dangerously only for Sylvain Distin to fire over the bar.
Gareth Southgate is under pressure and concedes a free kick taken by the busy Robbie Fowler but Mark Schwarzer is alive to the danger and saves well.
Both managers are looking to win this and each make a substitution with Stewart Downing replacing Szilard Nemeth for Boro while City bring on Bradley Wright-Phillip for the injured Antoine Sibierski
George Boateng aerns a yellow card for a clattering tackle on Kiki Musampa and the resulting free kick taken by Antoine Sibierski is well saved by Mark Schwarzer
Boro are fired up for the start of the second half and Boudewijn Zenden is immediately booked for a foul on Claudio Reyna
City are back in this after Joey Barton found Kiki Musampa who broke into the penalty area and shot left-footed to level things up
City are unlucky to be behind at the interval although there were more positive signs for Boro late in the half.
Boro are enjoying a good spell before the break and Guidoni Junior Doriva tries his luck from outside the box but it misses on the right
City are foolishly getting niggly and Sylvain Distin is booked for a rash challenge on George Boateng
Shaun Wright-Phillips breaks through the defence again but fires his shot over the bar.
Joey Barton sends Szilard Nemeth clattering to earn a caution
Mark Schwarzer is tested by Kiki Musampa whose right-footed effort is saved
Joey Barton takes the resulting corner from the left with Boro under considerable pressure
City are looking to get back into this and push forard to win another corner taken by Robbie Fowler which is cleared behind by Ugo Ehiogu
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink with a tremendous 25-yard free kick screams into the top corner of the net to but Boro ahead against the run of play
Another good City move sets up Shaun Wright-Phillips but his close-range shot fires wide
Boro are finding it difficult to break down City in midfield and the home side's back line frustrate the visitors who are being caught off-side
Another promising City move results ina corner on the right and again a testing inswinger tests Boro but Franck Queudrue clears the danger.
City press forward from the opening whistle and win an early corner which Robbie Fowler swings in but Shaun Wright-Phillips fires over
A carnival type atmosphere as the game gets underway.
Middlesbrough had goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to thank as they claimed the final place in Europe following a dramatic finish to their UEFA cup decider at Man City. The big Aussie pulled off a fabulous penalty save to deny Robbie Fowler deep into the five minutes of stoppage time. Had Fowler found the net City would have snatched the UEFA cup spot from Boro in what was a winner takes all match. And in what was an incredible finish, City manager Stuart Pearce even switched goalkeeper David James to a makeshift striker as City looked for a winning goal. Boro, needing one point to guarantee their European place, preserved their remarkable record of having never lost to City in the Premiership, a sequence now stretching to 12 matches. The Teessiders had stolen the lead midway through the opening period against the run of play. Fowler fouled Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 30 yards from goal and the Dutch striker picked himself up to fire home an unstoppable free-kick which went in off the underside of the crossbar. City could not have dreamed of a better start to the second half as they drew level within the opening minute. Kiki Musampa raced on to a pass from Joey Barton and burst past Ugo Ehiogu into the penalty area before shooting low past Schwarzer. There was controversy midway through the half when Ray Parlour, booked for a foul on Claudio Reyna, committed another bad tackle on Shaun Wright-Phillips minutes later. Referee Rob Styles, who had booked six players, should have sent off Parlour who escaped with a warning, to the fury of City players, management and fans. Pearce caused a sensation with two minutes to go as his side pressed for a winning goal as he brought on reserve keeper Nicky Weaver, enabling James to switch to striker. Then deep into injury time came the City penalty, which was awarded for a handball by Boro defender Franck Queudrue, but Schwarzer came to his side's rescue and dashed City's hopes.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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