The quarter-finals of the European City Cup were pretty good, with the scorelines of 4-3, 3-2, 2-1 and 1-0 being pretty pleasing to the eye. We have four teams left, and this is how the draw looks:
So, the two semi-finals we'll cover today are Rome vs. Zagreb and Manchester vs. Nis. So let's just get to it! Check out the previous episode if you want to see the clubs of each teams' players.
Rome vs. Zagreb
Rome's aggregate scoreline so far is 12-5, beating Berlin, Charleroi, Split and Kyiv. Meanwhile, Zagreb have an aggregate scoreline of 8-3, beating Oslo, The Hague, Zurich and Bilbao. On balance, Rome go in as marginal favourites, but Zagreb's contingent of World Cup finalists means they have possibly the strongest midfield in the tournament.
Rome bring Antei of Benevento in for Vicari at the back, otherwise there are no changes between the two sides.
The first moment of note in the match brings about the opening goal, as Daniele De Rossi's floated cross is met by Antonio Candreva, whose header delicately floats over Kelava and into the back of the net. The match remained tight and tense up until half time, with Rome maintaining the single goal lead.
Rome's aggregate scoreline so far is 12-5, beating Berlin, Charleroi, Split and Kyiv. Meanwhile, Zagreb have an aggregate scoreline of 8-3, beating Oslo, The Hague, Zurich and Bilbao. On balance, Rome go in as marginal favourites, but Zagreb's contingent of World Cup finalists means they have possibly the strongest midfield in the tournament.
Rome bring Antei of Benevento in for Vicari at the back, otherwise there are no changes between the two sides.
The first moment of note in the match brings about the opening goal, as Daniele De Rossi's floated cross is met by Antonio Candreva, whose header delicately floats over Kelava and into the back of the net. The match remained tight and tense up until half time, with Rome maintaining the single goal lead.
Zagreb had a great chance to level at the start of the second half as Tin (yes, not Tim) Jedvaj had a free header from a corner easily held by Pigliacelli. There was an even bigger chance later when Peluso was caught dawdling with the ball, and Andrej Kramaric played through, but the former Leicester man saw his shot parried. Zagreb couldn't find an extra gear, and ultimately slipped to a single-goal defeat.
Manchester vs. Nis
Both teams have an aggregate goal difference this tournament of +8. Manchester overcame Budapest, Liverpool, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to get here, whilst Nis beat Dusseldorf, St Petersburg, Birmingham and Tbilisi. If you read the previous episode you will be familiar with Nis' generally low-profile squad, and as such they are likely outsiders for this match.
Manchester make one change, Tyler Blackett replacing his former Man Utd teammate Cameron Borthwick-Jackson at left back. Nis, meanwhile, are unchanged.
Manchester kick this semi-final off, but Welbeck loses the ball out wide. Nis burst forward, and Pesic is played through. He's tackled well by Tarkowski, but it falls to Zivkovic, who crosses it for a simple tap-in for Nemanja Radonjic. It's a great start for Nis, but this advantage doesn't last long - in the 9th minute Vladimir Volkov flies recklessly into a challenge and sees red. Manchester have the chance to seize control of the match, but they struggle to do so. Coming into the interval, Nis are controlling possession when Logan intercepts and clears. It's a race between Marcus Rashford and Nis keeper Jovanovic. The Serb reaches the ball first, but miscontrols it and lets it run past him, allowing Rashford to steal in and poke Manchester level.
Both teams have an aggregate goal difference this tournament of +8. Manchester overcame Budapest, Liverpool, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to get here, whilst Nis beat Dusseldorf, St Petersburg, Birmingham and Tbilisi. If you read the previous episode you will be familiar with Nis' generally low-profile squad, and as such they are likely outsiders for this match.
Manchester make one change, Tyler Blackett replacing his former Man Utd teammate Cameron Borthwick-Jackson at left back. Nis, meanwhile, are unchanged.
Manchester kick this semi-final off, but Welbeck loses the ball out wide. Nis burst forward, and Pesic is played through. He's tackled well by Tarkowski, but it falls to Zivkovic, who crosses it for a simple tap-in for Nemanja Radonjic. It's a great start for Nis, but this advantage doesn't last long - in the 9th minute Vladimir Volkov flies recklessly into a challenge and sees red. Manchester have the chance to seize control of the match, but they struggle to do so. Coming into the interval, Nis are controlling possession when Logan intercepts and clears. It's a race between Marcus Rashford and Nis keeper Jovanovic. The Serb reaches the ball first, but miscontrols it and lets it run past him, allowing Rashford to steal in and poke Manchester level.
Despite being expected to now push on, Manchester continued to be matched by their plucky opponents, and couldn't find a way through. As such, we went all the way through to extra time.
Typically, the game's third goal came within the first minute of extra time, as a Manchester corner was knocked down by sub Kyle Bartley and turned home by Phil Jagielka. Nis remained in the contest, and appeared to have levelled in the 111th minute as Rade Dugalic nodded in a free kick, but the flag was raised and the goal was chalked off. Five minutes later, Nis played the ball into the box... and the whistle goes for a penalty! Logan was adjudged to have tripped Ivan Djoric, and Nikola Stojiljkovic calmly tucked the ball home. With no winner in sight, that took us to penalties!
Typically, the game's third goal came within the first minute of extra time, as a Manchester corner was knocked down by sub Kyle Bartley and turned home by Phil Jagielka. Nis remained in the contest, and appeared to have levelled in the 111th minute as Rade Dugalic nodded in a free kick, but the flag was raised and the goal was chalked off. Five minutes later, Nis played the ball into the box... and the whistle goes for a penalty! Logan was adjudged to have tripped Ivan Djoric, and Nikola Stojiljkovic calmly tucked the ball home. With no winner in sight, that took us to penalties!
Up first, Jagielka... a terrible penalty, easily parried by Jovanovic! (0-0)
Stojiljkovic for Nis... can't score his second penalty as Keiran Westwood palms clear! (0-0)
Rashford... sends the keeper the wrong way with a lovely penalty! (1-0)
Andrija Zivkovic, man of the match... it's not a great penalty but it squirms in! (1-1)
Ravel Morrison... easily pushed away! (1-1)
Luka Ilic... straight at Westwood! (1-1)
Danny Drinkwater... hard and low into the corner! (2-1)
Uros Vitas... beats Westwood, but his the bar! (2-1)
Ahmah Benali with a chance to win it... well over the bar! (2-1)
Radonjic, who has to score... does so! (2-2)
So to sudden death...
Adam Clayton... hits it tamely towards Jovanovic, but the Nis keeper can only parry it into his own net! (3-2)
Ivan Kostic... too near the middle and pushed away by Westwood - Manchester win 3-2!
Stojiljkovic for Nis... can't score his second penalty as Keiran Westwood palms clear! (0-0)
Rashford... sends the keeper the wrong way with a lovely penalty! (1-0)
Andrija Zivkovic, man of the match... it's not a great penalty but it squirms in! (1-1)
Ravel Morrison... easily pushed away! (1-1)
Luka Ilic... straight at Westwood! (1-1)
Danny Drinkwater... hard and low into the corner! (2-1)
Uros Vitas... beats Westwood, but his the bar! (2-1)
Ahmah Benali with a chance to win it... well over the bar! (2-1)
Radonjic, who has to score... does so! (2-2)
So to sudden death...
Adam Clayton... hits it tamely towards Jovanovic, but the Nis keeper can only parry it into his own net! (3-2)
Ivan Kostic... too near the middle and pushed away by Westwood - Manchester win 3-2!
Full results
Rome 1-0 Zagreb
Manchester p2-2 Nis
Manchester p2-2 Nis
So, next time it'll be the final of the inaugural European City Cup! Will Rome's relatively serene progress take them all the way to the trophy, or will those penalty heroics give Manchester the impetus they need to claim the crown? There's only way to find out!