FOOTBALL Live

Thursday November 27, 2008 Finished

0 - 2

Schalke

Manchester City

  • Benjani 32’
  • Ireland 67’
  1. Superb City claim win at Schalke

    Superb City claim win at Schalke

    Manchester City guaranteed their progression from Group A with an impressive 2-0 victory over Schalke at the Veltins Arena. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Schalke
    • Manchester City
    • - Thanks for joining me this evening; make sure you stick around - we've got plenty to keep you entertained.
    • 90+3 FULL-TIME: Fine performance from City, who ride out an early storm before cutting the Bundesliga side apart on the counter attack. Should be enough to see them into the knockout stages.
    • 90+1 Schalke win a late corner when Hammann deflects a cross behind...the German veteran has barely moved from just in front of his back four in the second half - and he still looks knackered.
    • 89 Ireland tries to release Jo with a low pass after intercepting on the edge of his own box.
    • 88 City win a corner as they try to run down the clock...
    • 87 Sturridge wins a free-kick when he is fouled by Rafinha, the youngster just reacting a little to that cynical foul on the left-edge of the box.
    • 86 City are closing this match out in relative comfort; they look good to earn the three points that will mean they are almost surities to qualify for the knockout stages.
    • 84 City make a second change; Jo comes on to replace the hard-working Benjani.
    • 83 Plenty of positives to take for Hughes; Kompany has been composed and authoritive at the back, Sturridge has worked hard and looked threatening in a wide role.
    • 82 No sign of Hughes bringing anyone off to rest them for the weekend derby match against Manchester United; he wants to secure this match first...
    • 80 A third change for the home side, Sanchez coming on to replace Altintop.
    • 79 WIDE! Sturridge flashes a left-foot effort a couple of yards wide after a long-throw had been flicked on and the ball fell to him 14 yards out.
    • 78 Vassell wins his side a pressure-relieving free-kick when he is brought down as he tries to run the ball away from danger.
    • 77 Farfan gets free down the left...his cross into the middle is fisted away by Hart.
    • 75 GREAT SAVE! Hart shows impressive reactions to get an arm to Asamoah's header as the substitute gets a head on a vicious inswinging free-kick!
    • 73 Schalke make a second change; skipper Marcelo Jose Bordon looks to have pulled a hamstring and is replaced.
    • 72 SLICED! Halil Altintop slices a left-foot effort well, well wide from 16 yards after being found in some space on the edge of the box.
    • 71 Manuel Neuer plays the role of sweeper as he comes out of his box to chest down Ireland's pass, meant for Benjani.
    • 70 GOOD DEFENDING! City get opened up with a fine pass from Jones, who sets Orlando Engelaar in down the left...his low cross is turned behind at the near post by Dunne.
    • 69 City must concentrate now on not making any silly mistakes to allow the home side a way back into the match.
    • 68 So, Ireland has reward for another excellent performance; he has always been willing to break forward from midfield with well-timed runs.
    • 67 GOAL! IRELAND DOUBLES THE LEAD! He plays a nice one-two with Benjani, the midfielder sprinting on to the looping, deflected return to stab under the keeper! Great finish from the red-hot midfielder.
    • 67 City are working so hard off the ball...Schalke are having a lot of the ball, but they can't find a way through to their front men.
    • 66 The home supporters are getting increasingly irritated by their side...
    • 65 Ireland is harshly booked for a high foot in a challenge in midfield...nothing dangerous about it.
    • 64 Nervy moment for Hammann, already on a yellow card, when Altintop goes down...the referee says he dived.
    • 63 Asamoah comes in to the action for the home side, replacing Ivan Rakitic
    • 62 City are knocking the ball about with a bit of composure now, trying to control the game.
    • 61 Schalke are preparing to make a change...
    • 60 SWP goes for goal from a tight angle from the set-piece...well read and claimed by the keeper.
    • 59 Sturridge wins his side a free-kick on the left-edge of the box after attacking down the left...dangerous set-piece for the visitors...
    • 58 A misunderstanding between Richards and Kompany sees the England man bring down Farfan...he's booked for the challenge...free-kick, 35 yards from goal...
    • 56 GREAT EFFORT! SWP tests the keeper with a fizzing effort from distance...palmed clear by the keeper.
    • 56 Richards is penalised for a strong shoulder-barge on Jefferson Farfan.
    • 55 A win here would almost put City through in Group A; six points from their first two games is an excellent return.
    • 54 Hart's huge kick up field runs out for a throw down near the corner flag...City happy to defend at the moment...1-0 scoreline suits them...
    • 53 Ball gives away a free-kick for tripping Kevin Kuranyi...City need to be careful here.
    • 53 Benjani needlessly gives the ball away after Hamann had broken up another Schalke attack.
    • 52 Pander blasts...blocked on the edge of the box. Poor effort, really.
    • 51 Hamann handles the ball, 35 yards out. Free-kick for the home side. Hart lines up his wall...
    • 51 Schalke are having a lot of the ball at the moment; looks as though City don't mind so much.
    • 50 Rafinha picks out Halil Altintop with a nice ball over the top of the left back...but Altintop's cross finds the side-netting.
    • 49 If Schalke come out and attack City, there will be plenty of space for Ireland and Sturridge and SWP to burst into on the break...
    • 48 Marcelo Jose Bordon is just limping a little; looks as though Benjani accidentally stood on the defender as they challenged for a free-kick.
    • 47 City have made a change at the break: Ball has come on to replace Garrido at left-back. The Spaniard must have picked up a knock.
    • 46 The second half is underway...
    • 45 HALF-TIME: City lead and have been the better side in the latter stages...although the home side had made much the better start.
    • 44 SWP ON THE RUN! The little winger beats his man for pace, gets to the by-line...but his firm cut-back is intercepted at the near post.
    • 43 SUPERB TACKLE! Kmpany again comes to City's rescue with a well-timed challenge in the box to clear a dangerous cross from the right.
    • 42 Schalke win a free-kick in a dangerous spot...Jefferson Farfan and Halil Altintop stand over the set-piece...30 yards out...Altintop's effort is blocked.
    • 41 Benjani is just caught offside as he tries to attack Ireland's long ball from his own half.
    • 40 OFFSIDE! Ireland and Sturridge attack well...Ireland's first-time shot is well saved...Sturridge picks up the rebound...his scuffed shot is turned into the net by Ireland, but the goal is rightly chalked off as the City midfielder had got a yard beyond the final defender.
    • 39 Hart comes through a crowd and punches clear at a corner...the City keeper is trying to take command of his box.
    • 38 Dunne comes flying across to put the ball out with a challenge on Kevin Kuranyi after Kompany had slipped.
    • 37 SWP does well to skip past his man and cut in from the right...although his pass through is in between both Ireland and Vassell and easily cut out.
    • 36 The City fans are really loving this; they are holding their scarves aloft and making a right din.
    • 35 What will Schalke's reaction be? They might start to try to get the ball forward earlier rather than play the patient game they were adopting at the start of the match.
    • 34 That goal came really against the run of play...great counter attack, set up by a fine interception in midfield by Kompany.
    • 32 GOAL! BENJANI GIVES CITY THE LEAD! Sturridge attacks his man from the left...his low cross-shot is missed by everyone...apart from Benjani, who side-foots into the roof of the net at the back post!
    • 29 Vassell is penalised for tripping his man as he tries to get on SWP's ball through the middle.
    • 27 HART IN NO MANS LAND! City keeper Hart comes quite a long way to meet a cross from the right...he doesn't get there before Kevin Kuranyi, who looks set to flick into the empty net...but Richards superbly gets up to nod the ball out for a corner.
    • 25 Garrido fires the set-piece into the box...flicked on by Richards...saved low by Manuel Neuer.
    • 24 Hamann wins City a free-kick, 35 yards from goal, after his interception had set up a counter-attack...
    • 23 SWP breaks down the right...but his early low cross towards Sturridge is too far in front of the youngster and runs through to the keeper.
    • 22 BLOCKED! Kompany has to block Ivan Rakitic's shot on the volley from the edge of the box after the City defender had been forced to head clear a pass clipped over the top...touch of desperation about City's defending at times this evening.
    • 21 Hart is brought into action with a shot from the edge of the box...he makes the save look simple as Jones fires in the effort.
    • 20 It has been a very cagey start; both sides are getting plenty of men behind the ball when they lose possession.
    • 19 City haven't really managed to create anything too dangerous so far...they are struggling to put together any passing moves of note.
    • 18 Good defending from Vassell, who robs the winger before launching an attack down the City right...but he loses the ball as he crosses the halfway line.
    • 17 City look prepared to be patient this evening; they are content to knock the ball about their defence without too much urgency.
    • 16 Schalke are a big side...the corner is thrown into the middle...Hart comes but doesn't reach it at the back post...the ball is headed high into the air, and City eventually clear.
    • 15 Garrido gives away a corner when he challenges Farfan down the Schalke right...
    • 13 WELL GATHERED! Benjani flicks the ball wide to Richards...his deflected cross from the right is really well claimed by the young German keeper, under pressure from Sturridge.
    • 12 Ivan Rakitic nicks the ball ahead of Hamann as Schalke launch a break...but the pass for Farfan is completely mis-read and Hart collects.
    • 11 SWP pumps a ball downfield where Ireland has made a run forward...he puts enough pressure on the defender to force a throw.
    • 10 GOOD SAVE! Jermaine Jones bursts between the two centre-backs and is found by a fine pass...his shot across goal from a tight angle is tipped around the post by Hart! Good alert goalkeeping from the youngster.
    • 9 Orlando Engelaar tosses in a hopeful cross from the left...easily claimed by Hart.
    • 9 City win a corner...but the referee spots some pushing inside the penalty area and awards the free-kick to the home side.
    • 8 Problems for City as Kevin Kuranyi gets down the left...Dunne is drawn to the ball...but Kompany intercepts the low cross into the middle.
    • 7 Hamann is lucky to escape a booking for a mis-timed late challenge on Farfan. Not pretty from the veteran.
    • 6 Jefferson Farfan just gets a toe on a long ball forward...but the ball floats to Hart inside his six-yard box. Slightly nervous moment.
    • 5 SWP manages to get away from the first challenge after City nick the ball on the half-way line...but he just can't get past the second man down the right.
    • 4 City have got a good following here; plenty of noise from the visiting section. The game hasn't really settled down yet.
    • 3 Positive start from the home side, who have a decent spell on the ball; the sides look as though they are matching up in 4-5-1 formations.
    • 2 Great atmosphere in Gelsenkirchen: City look to be lining up with Sturridge out on the left and Benjani up front on his own. SWP is playing through the middle.
    • 1 City get the match underway!
    • - Schalke are without key defender Mladen Krstajic, who fails to recover from a bacterial infection, Albert Streit (knee) and Peter Lovenkrands (thigh).
    • - Mark Hughes has made two changes to the side which beat Arsenal 3-0 last weekend. With Robinho unavailable, Daniel Sturridge has been brought into the starting line-up along with former Germany international Dietmar Hamann.
    • - Hi there; welcome to our coverage of Manchester City's trip to Germany to take on Schalke...could be an interesting game...

  • Summary

    • 75 GREAT SAVE! Hart shows impressive reactions to get an arm to Asamoah's header as the substitute gets a head on a vicious inswinging free-kick!
    • 70 GOOD DEFENDING! City get opened up with a fine pass from Jones, who sets Orlando Engelaar in down the left...his low cross is turned behind at the near post by Dunne.
    • 67 GOAL! IRELAND DOUBLES THE LEAD! He plays a nice one-two with Benjani, the midfielder sprinting on to the looping, deflected return to stab under the keeper! Great finish from the red-hot midfielder.
    • 56 GREAT EFFORT! SWP tests the keeper with a fizzing effort from distance...palmed clear by the keeper.
    • 32 GOAL! BENJANI GIVES CITY THE LEAD! Sturridge attacks his man from the left...his low cross-shot is missed by everyone...apart from Benjani, who side-foots into the roof of the net at the back post!
    • 27 HART IN NO MANS LAND! City keeper Hart comes quite a long way to meet a cross from the right...he doesn't get there before Kevin Kuranyi, who looks set to flick into the empty net...but Richards superbly gets up to nod the ball out for a corner.
    • 22 BLOCKED! Kompany has to block Ivan Rakitic's shot on the volley from the edge of the box after the City defender had been forced to head clear a pass clipped over the top...touch of desperation about City's defending at times this evening.
    • 13 WELL GATHERED! Benjani flicks the ball wide to Richards...his deflected cross from the right is really well claimed by the young German keeper, under pressure from Sturridge.
    • 10 GOOD SAVE! Jermaine Jones bursts between the two centre-backs and is found by a fine pass...his shot across goal from a tight angle is tipped around the post by Hart! Good alert goalkeeping from the youngster.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Alexandre Dan Tudor

  • Schalke

    Manager: Fred Jacobus Rutten

    Captain: Marcelo Bordon

    Starting line-up

    • M. Neuer
    • H. Westermann
    • C. Pander
    • M. Rafinha
    • M. Bordon Substitution Out (73′)
    • J. Jones
    • O. Engelaar
    • I. Rakitic Substitution Out (62′)
    • H. Altintop Substitution Out (80′)
    • J. Farfan
    • K. Kuranyi

    Subs

    • G. Asamoah Substitution In62′
    • M. Schober
    • F. Ernst
    • L. Kobiashvili
    • V. Sanchez Substitution In80′
    • B. Höwedes
    • C. Zambrano

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Manchester City

    Manager: Mark Hughes

    Captain: Richard Dunne

    Starting line-up

    • J. Hart
    • M. Richards Yellow Card
    • V. Kompany
    • R. Dunne
    • J. Garrido Substitution Out (45′)
    • D. Vassell
    • D. Hamann
    • S. Ireland Goal Yellow Card
    • D. Sturridge
    • S. Wright-Phillips
    • M. Benjani Goal Substitution Out (83′)

    Subs

    • M. Ball Substitution In45′
    • -. Glauber
    • K. Schmeichel
    • T. Ben Haim
    • .. Jo Substitution In83′
    • C. Evans
    • S. Logan

    Injured

    • .. Robinho
    • P. Zabaleta
    • G. Fernandes

    Suspended

    None