UEFA Cup Highlights Video
Man City vs AaB
Mark Hughes is not convinced the scrutiny on him as Manchester City manager would reduce even if he ended the Blues’ 33-year trophy drought by winning the UEFA Cup this season.
City entertain Aalborg at Eastlands, their third Danish opponents in a competition they entered as Fair Play winners in the first qualifying round back in July.
UEFA Cup Highlights Video
CSKA Moscow vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk defender Volodymyr Yezerskiy admits CSKA Moscow’s artificial surface may pose a challenge in their UEFA Cup last-16 first leg.
However, the Ukraine international has moved to play down the long-standing furore over the Luzhniki Stadium pitch ahead of the crucial clash.
Hamburg SV 3 – 1 Aston Villa
18′ Mladen Petric Goal 1 – 0
30′ Ivica Olic Goal 2 – 0
57′ Ivica Olic Goal 3 – 0
83′ 3 – 1 Goal Nathan Delfouneso
84′ Red Card Steve Sidwell
Aston Villa surrendered their unbeaten away record in Europe this season as a severely-weakened side were no match for Hamburg strikers Ivica Olic and Mladen Petric in a UEFA Cup clash at the Nordbank Arena.
With qualification for the final 32 already assured, Villa manager Martin O’Neill included only three of the starting line-up from the 4-2 weekend win over Bolton in defenders Carlos Cuellar and Luke Young and midfielder Steve Sidwell.
Villa, who had Sidwell sent off in the closing stages, had to play second fiddle to Martin Jol’s side once Petric had opened the scoring to pave the way for a double blast from Olic before a late consolation from Nathan Delfouneso.
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Aston Villa 1 – 2 MSK Zilina
16′ 0 – 1 Goal Vladimir Leitner
19′ 0 – 2 Goal Peter Styvar
28′ Nathan Delfouneso Goal 1 – 2
79′ Red Card Vladimir Leitner
Aston Villa advanced to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup despite crashing to a 2-1 defeat against 10-man MSK Zilina.
Goals from Vladimir Leitner, who was sent off in the second half for two bookable offences, and Peter Styvar put MSK in control before Nathan Delfouneso pulled one back on his full debut for Martin O’Neill’s side.
Villa could not find an equaliser but still join Hamburg and Ajax in the knockout stages.
They are now in a three-way battle to claim one of the top two spots which will ensure they have home advantage in the second game when the tournament reverts to a two-legged knockout competition in February.
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NEC Nijmegen 0 – 1 Tottenham
14′ 0 – 1 Goal Jamie O’Hara
Tottenham took a huge stride towards the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup following a 1-0 victory over NEC Nijmegen courtesy of Jamie O’Hara’s early strike.
O’Hara’s goal at Stadion De Goffert gives Harry Redknapp’s side six points from three games, which should be enough to get Spurs out of Group D ahead of their final match against Spartak Moscow.
Victory came on a bobbly pitch, damaged after snow hit Nijmegen and NEC’s heaters failed. Redknapp also had a raft of players ineligible, injured or in need of rest.
Schalke 04 0 – 2 Man City
32′ 0 – 1 Goal Benjani Mwaruwari
66′ 0 – 2 Goal Stephen Ireland
Goals from Benjani and Stephen Ireland gave Manchester City a precious 2-0 UEFA Cup victory at Schalke.
Benjani found the back of the net in the 32nd minute following a nice cross from Daniel Sturridge, who featured instead of the injured Robinho, before Stephan Ireland doubled the lead in the 67th minute.
The win puts Mark Hughes’ side top of Group A and they need just one point from the final two pool matches to secure passage to the next round.
Manchester City 3 – 2 Twente
2′ Shaun Wright-Phillips Goal 1 – 0
17′ 1 – 1 Goal Eljero Elia
57′ Robinho Goal 2 – 1
62′ Benjani Mwaruwari Goal 3 – 1
65′ 3 – 2 Goal Rob Wielaert
Robinho lit up the night sky as Manchester City got off to a winning start in Group A of the UEFA Cup.
The club’s record buy proved he is a class act by curling a shot from just inside the penalty area over goalkeeper Sander Boschker in the 56th minute.
It was his seventh goal of the season and gave City the advantage after a sublime pass from Stephen Ireland.
Robinho also hit the post twice but City had their work cut out against feisty Dutch opponents, managed by former England boss Steve McClaren.
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Benjani Mwaruwari were also on target but Twente responded with goals from Eljero Elia and Robbie Wielaert.
Man City vs Twente Highlights Video
Aston Villa 2 – 1 Ajax Amsterdam
8′ Martin Laursen Goal 1 – 0
22′ 1 – 1 Goal Thomas Vermaelen
45′ Gareth Barry Goal 2 – 1
Gareth Barry gave Aston Villa the ideal start to life in a bitterly tough group stage of this season’s UEFA Cup with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Ajax.
With tricky trips to Hamburg and Slavia Prague to come in Group F, boss Martin O’Neill came into the competition aware his side could ill afford to drop points at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Ajax Amsterdam Highlights Video
Heerenveen 1 – 3 AC Milan
19′ 0 – 1 Goal Calvin Jong-a-Pin (og)
23′ 0 – 2 Goal Ivan Gennaro Gattuso
69′ 0 – 3 Goal Filippo Inzaghi
86′ Danijel Pranjic (pen) Goal 1 – 3
AAC Milan got their UEFA Cup Group E adventure off to the best possible start with a comfortable 3-1 win over Dutch side Heerenveen.
An own goal from Heerenveen midfielder Calvin Jong-a-Pin after 19 minutes set them on their way, before goals from Gennaro Gattuso and Filippo Inzaghi completed the tally.
Danijel Pranjic added a late consolation goal for the hosts from the penalty spot four minutes from time.
Heerenveen started the game brightly, sending a number of crosses into the Milan area. But still they failed to test goalkeeper Dida until Mika Vayrynen tried his luck from all of 25 yards with quarter of an hour played.
But just as the hosts appeared to be growing in confidence they were rocked by an own goal at the other end. Kaka sent a cross towards the six-yard box and with Inzaghi lurking Jong-a-Pin inadvertently headed the ball into his own net.
Heerenveen vs AC Milan Highlights Video
Man City 2 – 1 Omonia Nicosia
48′ Blumer Elano Goal 1 – 0
55′ Shaun Wright-Phillips Goal 2 – 0
78′ 2 – 1 Goal Oladimeji Rasheed Alabi
Marlon Harewood struck his first goal of the season as Aston Villa booked their place in the group stages of the UEFA Cup despite being held at home in the second leg by their Bulgarian opponents.
The former West Ham striker broke the deadlock after 27 minutes only for the visitors to level matters shortly after the break through a controversial penalty from Wilfred Niflore.
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