Pre-match
Mark Hughes makes two changes to the starting line-up from Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea. Elano and Javi Garrido come in with Didi Hamann and Michael Ball the players to miss out. Both take their place on the bench as Hughes means business in Cyprus with a strong XI against the Cypriot league leaders.
The match
A noisy Nicosia greeted the two teams as they entered the GSP Stadium and the home fans attempted to unnerve the Blues by booing any early touch of the ball by the City players.
It didn’t stop City almost breaking the deadlock twice in the opening moments though. First Wright-Phillips got away into the area, but his pull back was cleared to safety, then Robinho had a right footed effort that brought a stretching save from Georgallides in the AC goal.
On 14 minutes Wright-Phillips hit a fine shot from distance after some neat feet which brought another save from the Omonia keeper who tickled the ball around the post.
Twenty minutes into the game, the home crowd were still beating drums and singing their songs, but City had prevented the partisan faithful from having anything of note to cheer in the contest.
Two minutes after they were whistling and howling their disapproval as Kaseke was booked for pulling down Robinho. The Italian referee soon levelled things up as Garrido received a yellow card for a rash challenge.
Sloppy play from the Omonia captain almost handed City the lead on 26 minutes as Ireland robbed Charalambous just inside the box and squared it for Jo but the ball looked to have caught a bobble on the dry pitch and the Brazilian striker could only waft the ball wide from close range.
Jo took a nasty kick on the knee as he tried to bring the ball down on 36 minutes, but despite being stretchered the necessary two yards off the pitch, he was okay to continue.
City then fashioned four chances in quick succession on 40 minutes in two swift raids . Jo hit the post, SWP fluffed a shot, Elano had a goalbound effort blocked before Robinho blasted over the crossbar as City just couldn’t find the goal they deserved.
A minute before half time Stephen Ireland then managed to hit the post as he did well to keep the ball in but the frustration was beginning to show as City’s dominance was yet to be rewarded.
HALF TIME: AC Omonia 0-0 City
There was just the one change at the break with Omonia replacing Aguirre with Bangura.
Two minutes into the second half Vincent Kompany had to make a tackle on the edge of the box which gave away a foul as Omonia threatened to break into the area but from the free-kick City paid the ultimate price for the missed chances in the first half as Duro whipped the ball beyond Hart.
Needless to say the stadium erupted as the scorer wheeled away in delight to celebrate with the home fans.
City responded well and the keeper needed to block an Ireland shot after Kompany’s long throughball on 53 minutes as Hughes’s side looked to pull level and score a vital away goal. On 56 minutes Jo rattled the bar with a shot from just inside the box which had Georgallides well beaten.
A minute later a pile driver from the right back Ndikumana flew narrowly wide as the Cypriots looked set to celebrate again – City had needed a goal from somewhere to quell the hosts and it duly came on 59 minutes.
Wright-Phillips got the better of the sleeping Charalambous and rolled it across to Jo, who made no mistake this time, as opened his City account from two-yards out. It was only what the Blues had deserved and Jo ensured there would be no repeat of his first half bobbler.
The game had opened up and Omonia should have gone back in front just after the hour mark. Great wing play down the right saw Dunne beaten by Christofi but Aloneftis’s touch saw the ball slide wide of Hart’s left hand post to safety following a dangerous cross.
The motto ‘try, try and try again’ is clearly familiar to this bunch of City players because on 72 minutes the Blues’ pressure paid off as they took the lead for the first time in the tie.
Pablo Zabaleta broke away down the right channel and put in a deep cross, which missed out the bulk of those converged in the penalty area, but Jo had pulled out and controlled the cross with his thigh and drove the ball into the far corner with his left foot. A good finish for his and City’s second goal of the night.
With 14 minutes left Duro showed his long range shooting talents again as his well hit drive flicked Hart’s crossbar on its way over.
Hughes made his first change on 76 minutes as Sturridge replaced Jo who was given a good send off by the travelling Blues.
City did well to restrict the Omonia attack in the latter stages and brought on Fernandes and Hamann to shore up the midfield as they ran down the clock and secured an impressive victory.
FULL TIME: AC Omonia 1-2 City
