Champions League
Man City
Nov 27, 2013 7.45pm
4
2
HT : 1 1
FT
Plzen
  • Sergio Aguero 33' goal
  • James Milner 40' yellowcard
  • Samir Nasri 66' goal
  • Martin Demichelis 72' yellowcard
  • Alvaro Negredo 78' goal
  • Edin Dzeko 89' goal
  • Yaya Toure 92' yellowcard
  • goal Tomas Horava 43'
  • yellowcard Marian Cisovsky 49'
  • goal Stanislav Tecl 69'

Live Commentary: Manchester City 4-2 Viktoria Plzen - as it happened

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Manchester City 4-2 Viktoria Plzen - as it happened
© AFP

Manchester City hosted Viktoria Plzen in their Champions League clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Sergio Aguero fired City into the lead, but Tomas Horava levelled for the visitors before half time.

Samir Nasri restored City's advantage, but Stanislav Tecl again equalised for Plzen.

The home side scored their third of the evening through Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko produced a fourth late on to make the game safe.

Read how the action unfolded below.

9.42pmThat's all we've got time for here after an entertaining game at the Etihad Stadium. Please stay with us at Sports Mole for all of tonight's results and reaction, but from me, it's goodbye!
9.40pmCity will go to Munich still with a chance of topping the group but they will have to score at least three goals. They will have to do it without Toure, who picked up that late booking tonight.
9.37pmManchester City have won the game and scored four goals in the process, but it was far from the relatively simple night they thought it would be beforehand. The visitors must receive a huge amount of credit for coming back to level twice and producing a good display this evening.
90+3 minFULL-TIME: Manchester City 4-2 Viktoria Plzen
90+2 minYELLOW CARD! Toure picks up a booking that means he will be suspended for the final group game with Bayern Munich.
90 minThere are going to be three minutes added on at the end of the game.
89 minSurely now City have made the game safe! Milner delivers a perfect ball into the middle that Dzeko heads past the keeper. There was some concern for Milner as he seemed to go down with an injury after crossing the ball, but he is fine to continue.
89 minGOAL! Manchester City 4-2 Viktoria Plzen (Dzeko)
88 minNavas has been brilliant since coming on and he combines well with Toure down the right hand side, before the attempted cross into the middle is cut out.
85 minSUBSTITUTION: Plzen make their second change with Bakos on for Kolar.
83 minPlzen are certainly not shy when it comes to shooting from long range, with Tecl having a go after the City defence backs off him. Unfortunately for the Czech side, his strike isn't the best and it sails wide of the goal.
80 minCHANCE! City are in debt to their keeper from denying Plzen a third goal! The ball is slid through to Rajtoral inside the box, but Hart is out quickly to block his attempt.
78 minThe home side have regained their lead and Negredo has made an immediate impact from the bench! The ball is worked to Navas on the right hand side of the box, with the winger sliding a low pass across the middle that Negredo slots in from a yard out.
78 minGOAL! Manchester City 3-2 Viktoria Plzen (Negredo)
77 minThe set piece is whipped into the middle and Negredo is on hand to clear the ball away under pressure.
76 minCity are looking really uncertain at the back and Lescott has given away a cheap corner here, when he should have let the ball run out of play.
75 minSUBSTITUTION: Manchester City make their final chance of the match, with Negredo coming on for Nasri.
74 minHorvath finally takes the free kick but misses the target with his effort.
73 minSUBSTITUTION: Plzen make a change with Kovarik on for Petrzela.
72 minYELLOW CARD! Demichelis gives away a free kick on the edge of the box and to compound his misery he is booked.
69 minRemarkable scenes here as the visitors bring themselves level for the second time this evening! Tecl picks up the ball inside the box after some static City defending, before calmly slotting the ball past Hart into the bottom corner. This definitely was not in the script at the start of the night!
69 minGOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Viktoria Plzen (Tecl)
66 minCHANCE! Almost immediately Plzen come close to equalising! Kolar lets rip with a powerful strike from around 30 yards out, but Hart does brilliantly to tip his effort over the bar.
65 minThe home side are back in the lead! Substitute Toure makes a big impact by working his way into the box, before finding Navas out wide. The Spaniard then whips a delightful ball into the middle that Nasri fires home.
65 minGOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Viktoria Plzen (Nasri)
64 minSUBSTITUTION: Fernandinho's game is over, as he is replaced by Toure.
63 minCHANCE! From the resulting corner, Dzeko flicks the ball on, but the ball is just beyond Lescott's reach, with the defender unable to turn the ball in at the back post.
62 minCHANCE! The first attempt from the corner comes back out to Nasri, who whips a brilliant ball into the middle that Fernandinho heads on but the keeper pushes it over the bar.
61 minMilner shows great conviction to beat his man on the left hand side before getting to the byline and winning his side a corner.
60 minThe home side look like they are starting to find another gear, with Navas looking a real threat. The winger is unlucky to be flagged offside in a promising area for City as he looked set to play the ball back across the box.
58 minCity are starting to pile on the pressure now. Navas works the ball into the middle for the onrushing Nasri, however the pass is played just beyond his reach.
55 minDuris fancies his chances with an effort from around 30 yards out, but his attempt lacks any power and it's an easy save for Hart.
53 minThe visitors are still looking to pose a threat and look dangerous on the counter. In their latest move Tecl is played through down the left hand side but Richards is back in time to stop him getting the ball into the box.
50 minCHANCE! Kolarov takes the free kick and it takes a slight deflection off the wall as it goes over the bar. Nasri takes the corner kick but the home side are able to clear.
49 minYELLOW CARD! Cisovsky picks up a booking for hacking down Nasri after the midfielder weaves his way to the edge of the box.
46 minSUBSTITUTION: At the start of the half the home side have been forced into a change, with Navas coming on for Aguero.
46 minPlzen take the kick off and the second half is underway.
8.45pmUPDATE: City's neighbours Manchester United are also in European action tonight and they have a 2-0 lead at half time over Bayer Leverkusen.
8.43pmThe stats at half time show how even the game has been. City have slightly shaded the possession, having seen 52% of the ball. Plzen meanwhile have forced more efforts on goal, with eight shots to City's seven.
8.40pmCity have not been at their flowing best and have not been able to replicate their fantastic form of this weekend. If things stay the same at the end of the game they will not have the chance to steal top spot in the group from Bayern Munich when they face the Germans in two weeks time.
8.36pmIn fairness, the visitors fully deserve to go into the break on level terms. They have taken the game to City and created some fantastic chances in their opponents final third.
8.34pmAt the end of the first 45 minutes, we have somewhat of an upset at the Etihad Stadium! Manchester City looked to have given themselves a half time lead thanks to Aguero's penalty, but a stunning goal from Horava has levelled things up for Viktoria Plzen.
45+1 minHALF-TIME: Manchester City 1-1 Viktoria Plzen
45 minWe are going to have one minute of time added on at the end of the half.
43 minThe visitors are level and it's a wonderful goal! The ball is worked to Horava, who is 20 yards out from goal, and the midfielder fires a brilliant effort across Hart and into the top right hand corner of the net!
43 minGOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Viktoria Plzen (Horava)
38 minRichards bursts through down the right hand side and is unlucky not to latch onto a through ball from Milner, with the keeper coming out to claim at his feet.
36 minThe visitors will be disappointed at giving away a penalty, especially when they were looking positive in attack. Their manager will be hoping that their confidence hasn't taken too big a blow and they can still cause City some problems.
33 minAguero sends the keeper the wrong way, slotting his penalty into the bottom left hand corner. There was never any doubt he would be finding the back of the net from that position!
33 minGOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Viktoria Plzen (Aguero)
32 minPENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY! Rajtoral handballs Aguero's cross and the home side are given the chance to take the lead!
31 minCHANCE! Plzen have missed another big chance in this game! The ball is worked to Duris on the edge of the box but he places an effort just wide of the post with Hart beaten.
30 minMilner is the next City player to attempt a shot on goal, but after cutting inside from the right, he strikes an effort straight at the keeper.
27 minCHANCE! What a huge chance for the visitors! Rajtoral does brilliantly to work his way into the box, but with two men to find in the middle, his strike across goal somehow misses everyone and goes wide. Will Plzen be made to regret that missed opportunity?
25 minAguero has the ball in the back of the net, but the goal is ruled out for an earlier foul by the Argentine on the centre back. The referee has made the right call there, as he was certainly tugging the defender back.
24 minCHANCE! The home side have a glimpse of goal, when Aguero works his way into a shooting position from the edge of the box, but the Argentine scuffs his effort and it trickles wide of the post.
21 minIt's a poor delivery from Horvath, as Plzen fail to beat the first man yet again.
20 minPlzen have won another corner after Demichelis is forced to put it behind. They may see these set pieces as their best chance of getting a goal tonight.
17 minCHANCE! Nasri should have scored! Aguero goes on a brilliant run down the right hand side before pulling the ball across the box, but with just the keeper to beat, Nasri places his effort wide of the goal.
14 minOFF THE BAR! City are unlucky not to take the lead! Nasri picks up the ball 25 yards out from goal, before lashing an effort that has the keeper beaten, but cannons back off the crossbar.
13 minThe away defence has to be alert to stop Aguero, as the Argentine looks to spin his man, but they are quick to see the danger and manage to clear.
11 minPlzen certainly haven't come here tonight just to lay down and be beaten. They are looking confident on the ball and have broken quickly on a couple of occasions after stopping City's attacks.
8 minCHANCE! Dzeko has his first sight of goal this evening. Garcia slips the ball to the striker in space down the right hand side, but he hits his effort straight at the keeper.
6 minCity win a free kick after Nasri is hacked down, with the Frenchman taking the set piece. His effort into the middle is flicked on by Garcia but he pokes it just wide of the post.
4 minThe home team are yet to fully click into gear, having given away a few sloppy passes in the early stages. It is a far cry from their performance at the weekend where they already had the lead by now!
3 minThe set piece comes to nothing as it goes out of play before Hart can get his hands on the ball.
2 minThe visitors haven't seen much of the ball, but they have won a free kick in a dangerous position here to the right side of the area.
1 minKICKOFF! Manchester City get the game underway at the Etihad.
7.45pmAs Joe Hart's name is read out, the crowd give him a huge round of applause. It's quite clear at what the fans think of him!
7.44pmThe players are out on the pitch and the familiar music of the Champions League is playing.
7.42pmThere are just a few minutes to go until the action gets underway at the Etihad Stadium. The players are making their way into the tunnel, with City being led out tonight by Aleksandar Kolarov.
7.38pmAfter his two goal performance at the weekend, many fans inside the ground will be excited at the prospect of seeing Sergio Aguero. His manager described him as "one of the three best players in the world". With 15 goals in all competitions so far this season it's hard not to rank him so highly.
7.35pmA player who could be in for a big night for Manchester City is Emyr Huws who has been named on the bench. The 20-year-old Welshman has represented his country at Under-21 level and spent last season on loan at Northampton Town. It will be a great moment for him and his family should he given a run out tonight.
7.33pmREFEREE: Turkish referee Firat Aydinus will be taking charge of tonight’s game.
7.30pmPREDICTION: Manchester City’s home form this season has been incredible and after putting six goals past Spurs at the weekend, it is surely just a case of how many times they will hit the back of the net this evening. Plzen have yet to pick up a point in the group and will be in no doubt at the magnitude of the task ahead. I expect City to comfortably win this one, with a scoreline of 5-0 my prediction of the outcome.
7.27pmOne man who will be under the microscope tonight is goalkeeper Joe Hart. The England international has come in for a huge amount of criticism for his performances this season and will want to prove to everyone that he is still the number one for his club and country.
7.24pmTwo of the Champions League's top five goalscorers are from the City squad. Sergio Aguero has scored five goals, with Alvaro Negredo just behind him on four. They will have some catching up to do to match Cristiano Ronaldo's current tally of eight goals in the group stage.
7.20pmAfter this weekend's game Pablo Zabaleta talked about the attacking threat of his team. "We know the quality we have in the front players. They can score at any time in the game. That is why we always talk about how important it is to keep clean sheets. If we do that, we know we are going to score some goals."
7.17pmCity have actually scored a remarkable 34 goals in their Premier League games this season, 10 more than league leaders Arsenal. They haven't fared to badly in the goalscoring department in Europe either, with 11 goals in their first four group games.
7.13pmViktoria Plzen fans who watched Manchester City put six past Spurs at the weekend will surely be fearing the worst tonight. The Citizens have hammered 18 goals past their opponents in their last three home games. The only team to have beaten them at the Etihad this season was Bayern Munich at the start of October.
7.10pmCSKA Moscow and Plzen will both fight for a chance to secure a place in the Europa League, with the Russians only needing a draw against the Czech side to finish third in the group.
7.08pmThe result from this evening's early game in Russia, means that Manchester City will have to beat Bayern to have any chance of topping the group when they face them at the Allianz Arena on December 10.
7.05pmVIKTORIA PLZEN SUBS: Bolek, Hejda, Hubnik, Reznik, Kovrk, Wagner, Bakos
7.04pmMANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Boyata, Navas, Toure, Huws, Negredo
7.03pmVIKTORIA PLZEN XI: Kozacik, Limbersky, Prochazka, Rajtoral, Clsovsky, Horvath, Petrzela, Kolar, Tecl, Duris
7.02pmMANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart, Richards, Lescott, Kolarov, Demichelis, Milner, Nasri, Garcia, Fernandinho, Dzeko, Aguero
7pmTEAM NEWS: The line ups have been announced for this evening’s fixture, with the headline news that Joe Hart will be starting for City. Martin Demichelis, Fernandinho, Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero are the only players who keep their place in the side from the weekend, with the likes of Edin Dzeko, Javi Garcia, Joleon Lescott and James Milner all starting.
6.56pmUPDATE: In this evening’s other game in Group D, Bayern Munich have beaten CSKA Moscow 3-1 in Russia. The current Champions of Europe made it five wins out of five in the group. Arjen Robben, Mario Gotze and Thomas Muller all scored, with Keisuke Honda netting for the home side.
6.53pmThe home fans at the Etihad will expect nothing less of them this evening, especially after Sunday’s impressive 6-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
6.50pmThey made light work of Viktoria Plzen when the two teams met back in September, with City running out 3-0 winners.
6.48pmManchester City booked their place in the last 16 of the competition for the first time by beating CSKA Moscow 5-2 in their last European outing.
6.45pmGood evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of this evening’s Champions League match between Manchester City and Viktoria Plzen at the Etihad Stadium.
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