EB Streymur v Manchester City UEFA CUP 1st Qualifying Round, 1st Leg 2008 to 09

EB STREYMUR 0 CITY 2

UEFA  Cup 1st Qualifying Round, 1st Leg played at Torsvollur Stadium, Torshavn, Faroe Isles

17th July 2008

Attendance 3,000

Scorers Petrov(9), Hamann(28)

ref Nicole Petignat

City Hart, Onuoha, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Johnson, Petrov, Jo, Vassell - subs used Fernandes(74), Evans(74) Subs not used Schmeichel, Corluka, Elano, Mwaruwari, Castillo

EB Streymur Torgard, Bo, Clementsen, Djurhuus, Foldgast, Bardur Olsen, Jacobsen, Hans Pauli Samuelsen, Hanssen, Arnbjorn Hansen, Niclassen - Subs used Davidsen(85), Brian Olsen(76), Eliasen(77) Subs not used Magnus Poulsen, Balog, Kruse, Thomassen

MARTIN PETROV OPENS THE SCORING WITH A TREMENDOUS DRIVE

 It was always going to be a difficult start to the game for City as they took a good five minutes to evaluate their opponents level of skill, during this time the Islanders managed a shot on target but it lacked power and was easily collected by Joe Hart. It took The Blues seven minutes to create their first good chance as the impressive Petrov crossed to Vassell, who guided his header to the bottom corner of the goal only to see the Streymur custodian pull off a fine save.

Just two minutes later Vassell collected the ball in the area he squared the ball to Michael Johnson, who cleverly stepped over the ball to allow Martin Petrov to smash the ball home from 16 yards to give City the lead. It was all City now and Vassell should have easily increased City's lead with a one on one chance which the keeper managed to block from just 6 yards. Jo’s first shot in a city shirt was yards over as he tried to curl one in from the edge of the box a few minutes later and the even Onuoha got in on the act as he volleyed well over in the box from a petrov free kick.

City did go 2 up however in the 28th minute as Hamaan struck a 25 yard spectacular volley into the top corner from a petrov corner. The last major chance of the half saw Jo go close with a near post diving header, again from a Petrov cross. And so at half-time it was 2-0 to City and could easily have been 5-0, Streymur just 'weren't at the races' A more determined Streymur team came out in the second half and for a good 10 minutes were the best team and and City were very sloppy. Hart clumsily palmed away a Streymur shot for a corner when it seemed easier to catch and City's number one was still looking uneasy just a few minutes later as he struggled to punch clear a dangerous Islander cross. The first chance that City created in the second half came on 65 minutes as a Vassell effort was deflected for a corner and then a Nedum Onouha effort was blocked from 6 yards from the resultant corner. Still impressive, Martin Petrov then went close from 25 yards curling a shot just over the bar

On 73 minutes Fernandes and Evans replaced the tiring Jo and Hamaan City were now back in total control apart from a minor scare in the 79th minute as Hanson turned Richard Dunne to get in a low shot which Hart smothered well. The game ended with City keeping possession for most of the last 10 minutes with Ched Evans having a few half chances. At the final whistle City had comfortably won 2-0 and perhaps should have at least doubled that, however, it seems certain they will easily progress to the 2nd Qualifying Round.