BBC Sport football

UEFA CUP LAST 32 FIRST LEG RESULTS
FC Copenhagen 2-2 Man City
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Tottenham

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

By Caroline Cheese

2106: I feel honoured and blessed to have been in your company this evening, and it is with a heavy heart that I bid you farewell... Not really, I've got the day off tomorrow! Woo-hoo. You take care now. And don't forget the climax of the cricket with Fletch:
Live text - W Indies v England

2104: A last word from Danny the Stat: "Copenhagen goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen will have a lot of explaining to do to his chums regarding his 2.54 score on our Player Rater. "I numptied it up," he'll probably say, before adding "but I don't feel too bad, 'cos we got a creditable draw." Anyway, shoddy scoring notwithstanding, he's likely to end up miles behind current leader Stephen "6.89" Ireland. Unless you want to change these scores, which you can thanks to the beauty of Player Rater. Get involved, old beans..."
Copenhagen v Man City Player Rater

2101: Alan Hansen and Lee Dixon agree that City should still go through in the return leg next Thursday. Indeed, Dixon adds: "If their centre-halves defend that high up, Copenhagen will get slaughtered at Eastlands."

2059: "It's not the end of the world. City will beat them at home and even a 0-0 or 1-1 will take them through."
chrisp2412 on 606
Join the debate on 606

2057: "Mark Hughes will be wondering how they didn't win that game by five goals," reckons Lee Dixon, speaking on BBC3. "Through bad defending," responds Gary Lineker, not unreasonably.

2056: FULL-TIME Copenhagen 2-2 Man City

2053: GOAL Copenhagen 2-2 Man City
Dame Ndoye runs onto a clever pass on the right and crosses for an unmarked Martin Vingaard to head in an injury-time equaliser for the hosts. Mark Hughes quietly fumes as he watches his defence fall apart again.

2051: Copenhegan continue to throw everything at City. Robinho is replaced by Felipe Caicedo.

2051: Oh go on then. Copenhagen are attacking an end featuring a mural of a crowd - a bit like the one they had at Highbury a few years back. It's how football would look in Paddington Bear.

2050: "Is no-one going to mention that strange theatre backdrop at Copenhagen then?"
Anon via text on 81111
Shhhh... No one's noticed

2048: Shaun Wright-Phillips and Craig Bellamy link up well on the left but Jesper Christiansen is equal to the diminutive winger's well-struck shot.

2046: Micah Richards sees yellow for a foul on the left. Martin Vingaard fizzes a dangerous free-kick over but the header is high.

2043: City hanging on really, as the snow continues to fall, but suddenly Robinho is clean through after a mistake from Ulrik Lauresen. The Brazilian shoots rather weakly straight at the keeper.

2041: "That was a clear case of Spurs trying to avoid playing Aston Villa in the next round of the Uefa Cup."
Thanks A lot BBC7 on 606
Join the debate on 606

2040: Here's Danny the Stat then: "Spurs' Michael Dawson is currently lording it over his rivals on our Player Rater. Users have given him a score of 7.14 so far, which makes him the only man to "break the seven" (it'll catch on). Elsewhere, Shakhtar players are all at fives and sixes, although that'll surely be sixes and sevens soon. Late goal hero Rodrigues Jadson is only on 5.90 and he deserves that for his name alone, surely? Get involved, would you..."
Shakhtar v Spurs Player Rater

2038: Still quarter of an hour remaining at Copenhagen, where the hosts have a corner. City can't clear their lines and the ball eventually comes back in - Ailton Almeida only inches away from tapping in.

2036: Heurelho Gomes is still feeling that jaw - but I imagine that might be a pride-related injury after he failed to deal with the ball into the box for Shakhtar's first goal. Mountain to climb for Spurs in next Thursday's return leg.

2035: FULL-TIME Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Tottenham

2034: John Bostock is now on for Spurs, replacing Dean Parrett. Ex Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer is on for Copenhagen.

2030: GOAL Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Tottenham
Brazilian Jadson cuts in from the right, plays a quick one-two, and keeps going, beating the defender with a drop of the shoulder and slotting past Heurelho Gomes. Deadly.

2028: Only three minutes remaining at the RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium. Tottenham can count themselves a touch unlucky to be behind. They've been much-improved in this second half.

2025: Meanwhile, Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes is back on his feet, and it looks like he took a knock on the jaw.

2023: GOAL Copenhagen 1-2 Man City
Shaun Wright-Phillips manages to dig out a cross from the right and Stephen Ireland is the only one who moves for it, coming to the near post to half-volley in. Great strike, but statuesque defending from the hosts.

2022: Heurelho Gomes is still down in the penalty area with a head injury. Oscar Jansson is Spurs' substitute keeper.

2020: GOAL Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 Tottenham
And now poor defending from Tottenham. Jadson lofts a deep free-kick in from the left and substitute Yevgen Seleznov - with his first touch - gets in ahead of Heurelho Gomes to nod in.

2019: GOAL Copenhagen 1-1 Man City
Ailton Almeida is unmarked as he comes to meet William Kvist's corner with a firm header high into the net. Poor defending from City.

2017: Darren Bent's arrival means Fraizer Campbell is now playing on the right, with David Bentley on the left for the moment. Campbell has been pretty lively tonight.

2014: Stephen Ireland's shot is heading for the goal - until Shaun Wright-Phillips gets in the way.

2012: Steve McClaren's high-flying Twente side take the lead at Marseille through Marko Arnautovic's 22nd minute strike. That is - how you say? - quite impressive.

2011: Spurs and Shakhtar make a change apiece. Darren Bent replaces Giovani dos Santos, Luiz Adriano is on for fellow Brazilian Ilsinho.

2009: Copenhagen keeper Jesper Christiansen gathers Shaun Wright-Phillips's low shot with ease. Relief all round for the home fans.

2008: They're back under way in Copenhagen. Wonderful.

2007: "Copenhagen's opportunities have been few and far between. Manchester City have been pretty comfortable. Away from home they've had defensive problems this season. But I think Mark Hughes will be relatively happy at half-time."
Alan Hansen on Match of the Day

2006: Spurs defender Michael Dawson makes another vital interception at the back as Shakhtar threaten. He has been superb tonight. Darren Bent looks like he'll be on in a tick.

2002: But wait. Shakhtar have a free-kick - which Fernandinho fizzes only just over the bar. A few of you have asked about the lines on the pitch at the Olympiyskiy Stadium. Apparently, it's to do with the covers they use to protect the pitch from the freezing conditions.

2000: Just typing this so you don't think I've nodded off. Nothing of note occurring at RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium.

1956: Danny the Stat has this to say for himself: "Regular readers of my Player Rater updates today (ie the one at 1944 GMT) will recall I was outraged at the low scores given to the Shakhtar Donetsk players. I do not have the same sense of injustice at the 1.33 currently awarded to Jesper Christiansen. He fluffed it big time. Big time. Fluffed. Elsewhere, Vincent Kompany has 6.83 and the Man City players are generally scoring quite well. Get involved, folks and folkesses..."
Copenhagen v Man City Player Rater

1952: HALF-TIME FC Copenhagen 0-1 Man City

1952: Over in Ukraine, Willian drags a shot narrowly wide for Shakhtar.

1949: "Craig Bellamy wouldn't be Craig Bellamy if he wasn't having a moan," says Kevin Gallacher on BBC 5 Live. The City striker is booked for ignoring the whistle after he is caught offside.

1947: Off they go at Shakhtar Donetsk.

1945: Craig Bellamy slides the ball through for Robinho and the whistle goes immediately for offside - which is just as well for the Brazilian, whose attempted lob over the keeper comes off the outside of his foot.

1944: Here's that man Danny the Stat: "Oh dear. What have you lot got against Shakhtar Donetsk? They've got a stinking bunch of marks, with only Razvan Rat and Fernandinho able to "break the five" on Player Rater. On the other side, Michael Dawson's top of the Spurs pops with a creditable 7.13. Now, if my opinion counted - which it doesn't - I'd say that was well harsh. If you agree - or not - please feel free to get involved."
Player Rater

1941: Craig Bellamy's free-kick flicks off the wall and it almost falls for Stephen Ireland, but the midfielder can't quite get his foot high enough to hook it in.

1938: Nedum Onuoha was in a fantastic position as he struck that shot - and Craig Bellamy was about to give the defender a right old earful for making a mess of it. Bellamy's mood soon changed when he saw the ball creep over the line. Only Onuoha's second goal for City.

1935: GOAL Copenhagen 0-1 Man City
What a strike! Nedum Onuoha's miserable shot dribbles towards keeper Jesper Christiansen, who somehow allows it to squirm under his body. A 100%, solid gold, howler extraordinaire.

1932: A long ball into the box comes back to William Kvist, who blazes over wastefully for Copenhagen. Meanwhile, the players troop off at the RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium. Shakhtar are a very decent side, and Spurs will do well to take a draw away from this.

1931: HALF-TIME Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Tottenham

1929: Robinho cuts in from the left and sets up Shaun Wright-Phillips, whose first touch takes him away from the defender, but his shot is too close to the keeper. Decent chance.

1928: "Am I getting old or is it hard to tell the white of Copenhagen and the sky blue of City apart?"
James via text on 81111
Arguably, we're all getting old - but I agree, it is a bit of a challenge

1927: Shaun Wright-Phillips has time to measure his cross from the right, with both Robinho and Stephen Ireland waiting, but his low effort is cleared. Great news Copenhagen fans, Cesar Santin is back on.

1926: Fraizer Campbell wins a free-kick about 25 yards out. David Bentley's first effort goes straight to the keeper, but he gets another go because the wall was too close. The second attempt hammers into the wall.

1925: Trouble for Copenhagen. Cesar Santin is involved in a clash of heads with Vincent Kompany and needs further treatment.

1922: The groundsman at the Parken Stadium is from Preston we're told - and the pitch came from Scunthorpe. So there we are.

1920: Manchester City keeper Shay Given drops a William Kvist corner - but his blushes are saved by Pablo Zabaleta.

1919: Craig Bellamy is only narrowly offside as he latches onto Stephen Ireland's through-ball.

1918: That's a decent move from Tottenham, Giovani dos Santos picking the ball up on the left and lashing a swerving shot into the side netting.

1916: The snow may be falling in Copenhagen and the temperature below zero, but Mark Hughes refuses to wear a coat over his suit. Respect.

1912: Tottenham fail to track the overlapping run on the right and the cross zings across the box but Mariusz Lewandowski at the far post can't control it. A makeshift Tottenham are struggling to cope with Shakhtar's movement.

1911: Shakhtar striker Olexandr Gladkiy chests the ball down on the six-yard line and volleys it... backwards.

1910: "Re 1901: Aguero for a dad and Maradona for a granddad? That kid has quite some footballing pedigree. I'd sign him now if I was a manager."
Anon via text on 81111
Should think City are preparing a bid as we speak

1906: Czech referee Pavel Kralovec blows his whistle and we're off and running in Copenhagen.

1905: Both the little mascots in Copenhagen look absolutely freezing as the two skippers exchange pleasantries on the halfway line. They're trying to smile through it, but you can tell this was not what they signed up for.

1902: The players head out into a blizzard at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. I exaggerate of course. It's just a regular snow shower.

1901: Aaaah. Diego Maradona is a granddad. His daughter Giannina and Atletico Madrid striker boyfriend Sergio Aguero are celebrating the birth of Benjamin Aguero Maradona.

1856: Razvan Rat charges into the box to meet a deep cross but volleys over. No one tracked that run, which prompts some urgent pointing from Harry Redknapp.

1853: An early result for you from tonight's Uefa Cup action: Lech Poznan come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Udinese. The winner of that one faces holders Zenit or Stuttgart.

1850: Ilsinho's pass takes a nasty deflection off Dean Parrett and falls into the path of an unmarked Jadson, but his shot spins wide.

1848: Not sure I like the look of this pitch at the RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium. It looks very soft.

1846: Austrian ref Thomas Einwaller gets the game in Ukraine under way.

1843: TEAM NEWS FC Copenhagen v Man City
Manchester City forward Robinho has shrugged off a thigh strain to play, but there is no place for Elano. Centre-back Richard Dunne and winger Shaun-Wright Phillips are back after suspension. Central defender Micah Richards is also back in the side after an ankle injury. Copenhagen have their own Brazilian in Cesar Santin, who scored in three of his side's four Uefa Cup group games.

1842: TEAMS FC Copenhagen v Man City
FC Copenhagen: Christiansen, Pospech, Laursen, Antonsson, Wendt, Kvist, Kristensen, Norregaard, Hutchinson, Almeida, Santin. Subs: Coe, Niclas Jensen, Nordstrand, Gronkjaer, Ndoye, Vingaard, Jorgensen.
Man City: Given, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Bridge, Zabaleta, Kompany, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Bellamy. Subs: Hart, Elano, Vassell, Garrido, Caicedo, Evans, Weiss.

1841: Brrrrr. It's -7C in Donetsk.

1838: Nearly forgot to tell you. Manchester City's game is live on the telly channel known as BBC3 - and (if you live in the UK) you can also watch it on the BBC Sport website. Happy days. BBC Radio Manchester's Ian Cheeseman (no relation) has been out in Denmark and he's written a kind of travel blog for your entertainment...
Cheeseman's tour of Denmark

1835: "It's not easy with so many players injured or ineligible. It's an opportunity for some players who haven't played so much. Hopefully it'll be a big night for Dean Parrett."
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp

1831: Like Shahktar, Copenhagen haven't played yet this year as they sit out the winter break in Denmark. Manchester City needed penalties to get past Danish side Midtjylland in the Uefa Cup qualifying rounds.

1828: "Re 1815: I'm hoping Anon is not at work? Surely they should be paying a little more attention!"
Simon, now sweating in the departures lounge at Gatwick, via text on 81111

1824: TEAM NEWS Shakhtar Donetsk v Tottenham
Only Jermaine Jenas and Michael Dawson remain from the Tottenham that drew against Arsenal last time out. Dean Parrett make his debut in midfield while Giovani dos Santos made his first start under Harry Redknapp. Tom Huddlestone starts at centre-back, Heurelho Gomes returns in goal and Fraizer Campbell is on his own up front. Shakhtar include four Brazilians in their starting line-up, with Luiz Adriano keeping the bench warm.

1819: Shakhtar Donetsk play their first game since beating Barcelona at the Nou Camp on 9 December. Tottenham are embarking on the first of six games in 17 days.

1817: TEAMS Shakhtar Donetsk v Tottenham
Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Chigrinsky, Ischenko, Rat, Fernandinho, Ilsinho, Jadson, Lewandowski, Willian, Gladkyy. Subs: Khudzamov, Fedetskiy, Shevchuk, Duljaj, Seleznyov, Luiz Adriano, Chyzhov.
Tottenham: Gomes, Gunter, Huddlestone, Dawson, Chimbonda, Jenas, Zokora, Parrett, Bentley, Giovani, Campbell. Subs: Jansson, Gilberto, Smith, Bostock, Mason, Obika, Bent.

1815: "Re 1807: Try air traffic control."
Anon via text on 81111
Is that an offer? I'll give it a go...

1813: Reading between the lines, I'd say Harry Redknapp isn't taking this Uefa Cup thing entirely seriously. Dean Parrett and Giovani dos Santos make the starting XI, Tom Huddlestone is at centre-back and Darren Bent is on the bench.

1811: Before City kick off in a snowy Copenhagen, Spurs are up against Shakhtar Donetsk in, er, Donetsk, which is a city in the region of, er, Donetsk, which is in Ukraine. No easy task for 'Arry's boys. Shakhtar were 1-0 up against Barcelona with three minutes remaining in the Champions League group stage before a quickfire Lionel Messi double broke their hearts. Shakhtar felt doubly hard done by because they had put the ball out of play because of an injury, only for Barca to take the throw-in, go up the other end and score the equaliser.

1807: "Mark Hughes has the most difficult job in Britain right now," reckons Copenhagen coach Stale Solbakken. Hmmm. He must not realise that I'm in the middle of my sixth shift in a row… Also, what about that Gordon Brown fella? Should you think of someone with a more difficult job than Cheese, Hughes or Brown, why not text 81111? Or join the happy throng on 606?
Join the debate on 606

1800: What's with the Uefa Cup and its wacky kick-off times? Quarter to seven? Five past seven? Uefa Cup, you devil, you.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version