Man City Dumped Out Of Europa League After Balotelli Red Card

Ten-man Manchester City were dumped out of the Europa League despite earning a 1-0 second-leg win over Dynamo Kiev. City dominated the first half but Mario Balotelli scooped over from three yards and missed with a header from 12 yards.

Striker Balotelli was sent off for a foul on Goran Popov before the break, giving City a tough task to overcome their two-goal first-leg deficit.

Aleksandar Kolarov fired in low from 20 yards to give them hope but City failed to trouble Kiev in the second half. City’s only realistic hopes of winning their first piece of major silverware since 1976 now rest with the FA Cup. That semi-final date against local rivals Manchester United on 16 April is now a do-or-die tie for Roberto Mancini’s multi-million pound outfit.

They may have still been fighting on two fronts had Balotelli’s impudence not got the better of him 10 minutes before the break.

It was a foolish and unnecessary challenge by the £24m-player, whose childish remonstrations and actions have overshadowed his good performances this season.

His boot into the midriff of Popov was probably borne out of frustration, with the Italian having missed a sitter from about three yards in the third minute before heading over the bar a few moments later. In fact, City were left frustrated on a handful of occasions during that first 45 minutes. Their best ploy was to attack down the right, with Micah Richards and Yaya Toure both providing teasing centres only for the resolute Kiev defence to clear.

The Ukraine side looked nervy, in contrast to the confident display seen in the first leg, and were content to hit City on the break – although they did this with very little success. So when Balotelli was shown red for planting his studs into Popov in the 36th minute it was an unexpected boost for Yuri Semen’s team.

However, in the immediate aftermath City took the lead thanks to the trusty left boot of Kolarov, who drilled in low from just outside the area after a pass from Silva.

The hosts created fewer chances after the break, with Argentine Carlos Tevez handed the responsibility to lead the line and the fightback. With his energy spent after chasing possession and David Silva having one of his more ineffective games, City lacked potency in the final third.

Mancini brought on striker Edin Dzeko and winger Adam Johnson in the last 20 minutes, but apart from a 20-yard snap-shot from the former, keeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy was relatively untroubled during the second half.

Kiev did their best to upset City with niggly fouls and what looked like melodramatics when they hit the deck.

But they showed in the first leg that when they opt to play football they are a dangerous outfit and over the two matches deserve their place in the last eight.