Manchester City lost 3-1 at Hamburg in the Uefa Cup despite taking a first-minute lead through Stephen Ireland.
City throw away dream start as Given keeps the score down
Manchester City lost 3-1 at Hamburg despite taking a first-minute lead through Stephen Ireland in their Uefa Cup quarter-final first leg.
The visitors got off to a dream start when Ireland started and finished a delightful move as he calmly side-footed home a Robinho lay-off.
But goals from Joris Mathijsen, Piotr Trochowski and Paulo Guerrero gave Martin Jol's side the advantage at the tie's halfway stage.
In the end the scoreline flattered City as Hamburg responded to their early setback in tremendous fashion and were level inside 10 minutes.
Trochowski's corner from the left was met by an unmarked Mathijsen who glanced his header past Shay Given.
Had it not been for Given the scoreline could have got embarrassing but the former Newcastle keeper could do nothing as Trochowski scored from the spot after Micah Richards had blatantly handled after 64 minutes.
Substitute Guerrero made sure of the result on 79 minutes when he tapped home a Trochowski cross at the back post.
City have taken just eight points from a possible 48 on the road in the Premier League all season yet they could not have wished for a better beginning to the game.
Dream start
Ireland started and finished the move, picking out Robinho with a wonderful long ball.
The Brazilian cut inside and released the midfielder, who had continued his run.
Ireland showed little hesitation to drill a shot beyond goalkeeper Frank Rost for his 11th goal of the season to leave Hamburg stunned.
The hosts however responded and Given made a marvellous point-blank save from Mladen Petric in the fifth minute.
Three minutes later Michael Gravgaard forced another superb block from Given before Hamburg equalised.
Mathijsen peeled away from his marker following a corner from Trochowski and although Given got a hand to the ball he could not prevent the defender scoring.
Hamburg almost took the lead in the 21st minute only for Jonathan Pitroipa's looping header to come back off the top of the bar.
Then Given did well to parry a shot from Marcell Jansen as City again found themselves on the back foot.
Given was at it again in the 43rd minute when he parried Trochowski's close-range effort with his feet.
But the City goalkeeper was a spectator as Gravgaard's overhead kick went over his head but clipped the top of the bar a minute before half-time.
Hamburg kept up the pressure and carved out another good chance in the 61st minute.
Pitroipa got on the end of a corner from Trochowski, only for Shaun Wright-Phillips to scramble the ball off the line with Given beaten.
Penalty
However, the home side maintained the momentum and took the lead three minutes later when Richards was adjudged to have handled Mathijsen's effort.
Richards could have little complaint as Trochowski stepped up and slotted his penalty kick coolly past Given to put Hamburg 2-1 ahead.
That goal prompted bedlam in the stadium among the partisan home supporters.
This was a difficult spell for City and moments later Jansen strode forward but saw his effort go narrowly wide of the post.
Hamburg made it 3-1 after 79 minutes when substitute Guerrero scored at the back post after being left unmarked following a cross from Trochowski.
It was another blow for City after such a bright start, who were hanging on at the end.
This was their 15th match in the competition and their hopes of progressing look slim indeed.
| Hamburger SV |
Team Statistics |
Manchester City |
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 11 |
Shots on Target |
4 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
1 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 18 |
Corners |
3 |
| 25 |
Fouls |
19 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
5 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 83.9 |
Passing Success |
80 |
| 28 |
Tackles |
23 |
| 64.3 |
Tackles Success |
78.3 |
| 53.2 |
Possession |
46.8 |
| 55.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
44.5 |
|
