[Roque Santa Cruz celebrates the goal which put City level.]

MESSOUDI 10'
SANTA CRUZ 58'

It was Man city's first game in the new European Super League, and unfortunetly, they were in the second tier. Up first were Willem II, and it was sure to be a cracker. City started new-boys Kolo Touré, Joleon Lescott, Carlos Tevez. Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz in a 4-4-2 formation, while Emmanuel Adebaypr settled for a place on the bench.

New manager Ben Wignall was asking a lot of Robinho. He chose to play him just behind the strikers, but his first job was to recieve a yellow card, after a lunge on Demouge. some slack defending gave City a bad start. Nieuwendaal went past Petrov easily, and Messoudi's shot from 12 yards out caught Given offguard, thanks to a deflection off Petrov, and Willem II were in the lead.

Santa Cruz almost got his City career off to a great start, when on 26 miniutes, he cut inside from the wing, and took a shot forom a narrow angle which hit the post. It bounced back into the mix, where Robinho was on hand to store the ball into the back of the net, but it was ruled out harshly for an obstruction on the defender.

It was City who dominated the first half though, and tey could of had a few goals. Tevez led the attack, and crashed a shot against the bar just before half time, after taking a heavy touch past a centre back. Santa Cruz almost netted, but the Paraguayan was offside before striking his shot wide. 1-0 to Willem II at half time, and if they could retain that lead after the break, they were on for a shock win.

With an hour gone on the clock, Wright-Phillips had the ball on the right, in what must of been his first touch of the ball in the game. He took on Van Dinter and knocked the ball into the centre of the box, and Santa Cruz rose highest, sending the ball into the back of the net. Willem couldn't say it wasn't coming, and the scorer moved to the right wing, once Adebayor had come on for Martin Petrov.

With 13 minutes to play, City were reduced to 10 men, and were dealt a major blow. shaun Wright-Phillips was shown a straight red for a lunge on Messoudi, which meant a shuffle of the pack by Wignall. He vacated Santa Cruz, and brought on Ireland to bolster the midfield prowess.

Ireland scuffed up his first chance of the game, and his only chance. Adebayor went on a mazy 70 yard run from his own half, and when he was forced to the byline, he cut the ball across goal, and the bald-heaed Ireland showed up in the area, and almost hit the corner flag with his effort. In the end, it was a lucky point earned for Willem II, and a tought start to life in the 2nd tier for City.

Ireland 43'
Bellamy 90'

After drawing with Willem II last week, City take on title challengers Rosenborg. An all-star attack is in force, with Adebayor partnering Tevez up-front, Shaun Wright-Phillips has a 3 mantch-ban after a straight red card, so Stephen Ireland comes in, pushing Robinho back to the left wing. This match isn't a league match, it's a D2 cup encounter!

City dominated the first half, possession wise, but kept blazing chances over the bar. Martin Petrov was the key man, and he got in behind the left back on 43 minutes, crossing the ball in low for the emerging Stephen Ireland, who slotted the ball into the top corner. It flew into the back of the net, and City were 1-0 up. Didier Ya Konan tested Shay Given, after Abdou Razack Traore whipped in a low cross, but the Irish stopper caught the ball with ease.

City could of doubled their lead in the 69th minute. Robinho went on a jinking run past 5 players on the left wing, and when he got to the byline, he had to cut the ball back across goal but Ireland skied the ball over the bar. Robinho, Aderbayor and Petrov were brought off, and on came Etuhu, Santa Cruz and Bellamy for the hosts.

City finally added a 2nd goal in stoppage time. Carlos Tevez, virtually invisible for most of the game, threaded a through ball to Craig Bellamy, and the Welsh forward slotted the ball past Espen Johnson, and gave City a 2-0 aggregate lead.

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Robinho 45'