Manchester City’s Europa League hopes in doubt after 2-0 defeat to Dynamo Kiev

Manchester City face an uphill struggle to progress to the Europa League quarter-finals after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine last night.

In freezing conditions in the Ukrainian capital, Roberto Mancini’s men failed to ever real get going and too often lacked enough quality with their final ball to really test experienced Kiev ‘keeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy.

Dynamo Kiev went in front in the 25^th minute through a deft finish from former AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko after a well worked cross from lively winger Andriy Yarmolenko, who at only 21 years of age looks a real prospect for the future.

Andriy Shevchenko looked impressive throughout
and scored Dynamo Kiev's first goal against City.

Manchester City offered little threat to the Kiev goal in the first half, with the only real moment of excitement from the City strike force coming at the start of the second half. Mario Balotelli, who seems unable to distance himself from any sort of controversy, came out late for the kick-off and the Blues had to start the second period with only ten men as first team coach David Platt was sent running back to the changing room to find the missing Balotelli. The Italian was soon back on the pitch with his team mates a minute later but was replaced by Carlos Tevez just twelve minutes in as he continued to rub his eyes and struggle with some sort of injury, although whether that injury was physical or mental is up for debate.

Balotelli’s replacement Tevez certainly offered City more of an attacking threat as they looked to earn a crucial away goal, with Yaya Toure, David Silva and Joleon Lescott all going close to making the score level. For all of the visitors’ increased pressure in the second half, it was Kiev who scored the second goal of the game. Andriy Shevchenko was again involved and it was his cross that was inadvertently headed on by City defender Vincent Kompany to Oleh Gusev who chested the ball down well before firing in an unstoppable shot past Joe Hart.

The Ukrainians now take an impressive 2-0 lead to Eastlands and Manchester City will need to put in an impressive performance to beat a Dinamo Kiev side that look solid at the back and possess an impressive attacking threat in the shape of Andriy Shevchenko, who last night looked almost back to his AC Milan best.