Manchester United result 3-2 - 4-4 agg - Out of the Champions League

A missed opportunity for Manchester United tonight to make the semis of the Champions League. They looked pretty good prior to half time, leading 3-0 but Bayern managed to scrape one back just before the break. Ironically, it was ex Chelsea wing man Arjen Robben who made it 3-2, who was then briskly substituted in the 75th minute having secured the second vital away goal dumping Man Utd out of the Champions League 2010.

UEFA Cup Semi Final Result Man City 2 Hamburg 1 (aggregate 3-4)

UEFA Cup Semi Final Result Man City 2 Hamburg 1 (aggregate 3-4)

Manchester City started with great spirit and determination, with their awesome fans making the right noise for this UEFA Cup tie. It was Guerrero that in the 12th minute tried to ruin the Eastlands party on the break with a cool finish to make it 1-0 to Hamburg.

Ireland, Elano and Robinho definitely gelled in the first half with slick passing moves getting them into the right areas to push on. Elano scored the equaliser as a result of a handball in the Hamburg box, the Man City forward finished emphatically to get the home team to 2-4 on aggregate.

It was Elano who threatened Hamburg again in the first half with a spectacular 20+ yard free kick, which ricocheted violently against the cross bar sending the ball away from goal. All in all, a good half but boss Mark Hughes will be desperate for the goals.
City started the second half well and then moved up a gear to made when Caicedo made it 2-1 with a neat bit of manoeuvring to get himself a bit of space to coolly steer the ball into the bottom left corner.
Then...unbelievable – Elano hits the word work yet again. This time he rattles the post with a Beckham type free kick that just curled a fraction too much; it left the ‘keeper standing like a spectator. Man City kept piling on the pressure, Caicedo skied the ball from point blank range, Robinho came close also as the home team bossed the game in an attractive, attacking manner. Caicedo was then correctly judged to have been in an offside position when he dribbled around the Hamburg keeper and put it into the net.

Captain Richard Dunne plays the game hard, after riding his luck in the first half received a second yellow card which knocked the stuffing out of Man City. Instantly Hamburg soaked up more possession and created some decent chances.

Micah Richards had a pretty decent chance from a rampage from his right back position, the England defender played upfront for the last 5 but it wasn’t enough and its Hamburg that clinch the UEFA Cup semi final spot.

As a Spurs supporter, I did feel a little chuffed for the well liked Martin Jol – a real gentleman of football who in my opinion can get success at the highest level.

UEFA Cup News 16th April

Ex Premier League manager Martin Jol returns to the UK as visitors Hamburg look to build on their 3-1 lead on Manchester City at Eastlands tonight in the UEFA Cup quarter final second leg. Jol’s German team are third in the Bundesliga, only 3 points off of top, so his objective will be the winning the double. They’ll fancy their chances against an off form Manchester City, that’s for sure.

Strange season for Manchester City really. Loaded with their new owners, Mark Hughes perhaps wouldn’t have rushed into Brazilian virtuoso Robinho who doesn’t look happy. It has been suggested that he is an ‘icing on the cake’ player, that he would have been more suited to a well established team like Chelsea. That said, he is more than capable of wondrous footballing feats, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he scores a goal or creates one tonight. Stephen Ireland has probably been their player of the season and Hughes has bought well but City aren’t performing right now. Defensively, Man City could be exposed tonight and Hamburg in the last half hour will look to counter attack but overall will be looking to stifle the home fans by regimented German defending and playing the possession game.

Hamburg have captain David Jarolim back strengthening the German side that lost on the weekend without him. I think this could be a draw.

Tottenham 2 Udinese 0

Tottenham Hotspur's dreadful start to the season worsened with a 2-0 away loss to Udinese. Udinese's first goal was an unforced error from goalkeeper Gomes who failed to deal with a run of the mill back pass and brought down italian striker Fabio Quagliarella for a penalty kick. Di Natale converted the spot kick in the 24th minute. Spurs looked good in the first half but struggled to capitalise from their possession. Luka Modric had a good game but during the second half was let down by team mate Jamie O'Hara who received 2 yellow cards in a minute to be sent off. However after this, a Darren Bent assertively headed a superb cross from Giovani goalwards which was superbly saved from closs range. In the 87th minute Udinese add to Spurs woes by making it 2-0 with a cool finish from substitute Simone Pepe.