I thought the European City Cup would be a fun tournament, but I didn't expect the carnage we've seen in the first two rounds! Basically every pre-tournament favourite has departed, and now surely it's anyone's game! This is how the draw does for the third round, with 16 teams remaining:
Amsterdam (Netherlands) vs. Graz (Austria)
Bilbao (Spain) vs. Bergen (Norway)
Nis (Serbia) vs. Birmingham (England)
Rome (Italy) vs. Split (Croatia)
Rotterdam (Netherlands) vs. Manchester (England)
Sheffield (England) vs. Tbilisi (Georgia)
Toulouse (France) vs. Kyiv (Ukraine)
Zagreb (Croatia) vs. Zurich (Switzerland)
Bilbao (Spain) vs. Bergen (Norway)
Nis (Serbia) vs. Birmingham (England)
Rome (Italy) vs. Split (Croatia)
Rotterdam (Netherlands) vs. Manchester (England)
Sheffield (England) vs. Tbilisi (Georgia)
Toulouse (France) vs. Kyiv (Ukraine)
Zagreb (Croatia) vs. Zurich (Switzerland)
As before, we'll give brief match reports on the most interesting games, and then a summary of the rest of the action. So... who's going to make the quarter-finals?
Nis vs. Birmingham
With an aggregate scoreline so far of 6-0, Nis are doing the best of all the teams left in the competition. They faced a Birmingham side without both of its first-choice strikers, as Troy Deeney joined Daniel Sturridge on the treatment table - although the latter was available from the bench. Despite this, it was Birmingham who got off to a flier, with James Vaughan putting them 2-0 up within 6 minutes. However, by the 21st minute Nis were level, and just before the break Alexsandar Pesic's 6th goal of the tournament put the Serbian team ahead. Birmingham tried hard to break through, but they had lost their goalscoring touch. But in added time super-sub Sturridge burst through and fizzed a brilliant low shot home to level matters. Extra time was incredibly cagey, but it brought a winner in the 121st minute... and it went to Nis as Nemanja Radonjic placed a fine shot home from a low Andrija Zivkovic cross! 4-3 the final score, superb entertainment!
With an aggregate scoreline so far of 6-0, Nis are doing the best of all the teams left in the competition. They faced a Birmingham side without both of its first-choice strikers, as Troy Deeney joined Daniel Sturridge on the treatment table - although the latter was available from the bench. Despite this, it was Birmingham who got off to a flier, with James Vaughan putting them 2-0 up within 6 minutes. However, by the 21st minute Nis were level, and just before the break Alexsandar Pesic's 6th goal of the tournament put the Serbian team ahead. Birmingham tried hard to break through, but they had lost their goalscoring touch. But in added time super-sub Sturridge burst through and fizzed a brilliant low shot home to level matters. Extra time was incredibly cagey, but it brought a winner in the 121st minute... and it went to Nis as Nemanja Radonjic placed a fine shot home from a low Andrija Zivkovic cross! 4-3 the final score, superb entertainment!
Amsterdam vs. Graz
With both sides getting here via 1-0 wins in the previous round, this had the early sign of a tight and tense game, and so it proved. Amsterdam took an 11th-minute lead as Jeremain Lens tucked away his fourth goal in three games. Graz always remained in the contest, however, and grabbed a second-half equaliser when Marcel Sabitzer headed home from an impossibly tight angle. Graz looked much more likely to find a winner, but it wasn't forthcoming and so we went to penalties. Graz's second penalty saw Mario Leitgeb hit the post, and it proved crucial as Amsterdam nailed all five of their kicks to progress somewhat fortuitously.
With both sides getting here via 1-0 wins in the previous round, this had the early sign of a tight and tense game, and so it proved. Amsterdam took an 11th-minute lead as Jeremain Lens tucked away his fourth goal in three games. Graz always remained in the contest, however, and grabbed a second-half equaliser when Marcel Sabitzer headed home from an impossibly tight angle. Graz looked much more likely to find a winner, but it wasn't forthcoming and so we went to penalties. Graz's second penalty saw Mario Leitgeb hit the post, and it proved crucial as Amsterdam nailed all five of their kicks to progress somewhat fortuitously.
Rotterdam vs. Manchester
Last time, part of the intrigue for Manchester was how Wayne Rooney would do leading the line against the city he used to play in. This time, it was the turn of Robin van Persie to take that role. After a star role in Rotterdam's comeback win over Sevilla, hopes were high for van Persie. However, the match was short on attacking quality, and the first hour flew by with few chances. The decisive moment came in the 62nd minute, when a brilliant low cross from Duncan Watmore found Danny Welbeck to poke Manchester into the lead. Just a few minutes later Marcus Rashford's ferocious shot from the edge of the box went through goalkeeper Warner Hahn to give Manchester some daylight. Late on Rotterdam's Jetro Williams picked up a second yellow, and that sealed progress for the English team.
Last time, part of the intrigue for Manchester was how Wayne Rooney would do leading the line against the city he used to play in. This time, it was the turn of Robin van Persie to take that role. After a star role in Rotterdam's comeback win over Sevilla, hopes were high for van Persie. However, the match was short on attacking quality, and the first hour flew by with few chances. The decisive moment came in the 62nd minute, when a brilliant low cross from Duncan Watmore found Danny Welbeck to poke Manchester into the lead. Just a few minutes later Marcus Rashford's ferocious shot from the edge of the box went through goalkeeper Warner Hahn to give Manchester some daylight. Late on Rotterdam's Jetro Williams picked up a second yellow, and that sealed progress for the English team.
Rome vs. Split
After Split's epic 4-3 win over Marseille, they are left with two important players suspended for this encounter - Ivan Strinic and Josip Radosevic. This was followed by a woeful start, as first Matteo Politano poked Rome ahead, then Antonio Milic (in for Strinic) had to go off injured. However, they got level when star man Ivan Perisic drilled a fine shot home. Politano immediately put Rome back ahead, but a fierce free kick from Andrija Balic ensured we entered the break level. The game entered a lull until the 80th minute when a loose ball fell the way to Amato Ciciretti who put Rome back ahead. Split appeared to be heading for the exit, but in the 90th minute they were awarded a penalty and CB Josip Elez held his nerve to level things. But as thoughts turned to extra time, a loose ball in midfield gave Rome the ball, and a quick break resulted in the ball coming to Daniele de Rossi, who tucked it home to seal a dramatic 4-3 victory for Rome!
After Split's epic 4-3 win over Marseille, they are left with two important players suspended for this encounter - Ivan Strinic and Josip Radosevic. This was followed by a woeful start, as first Matteo Politano poked Rome ahead, then Antonio Milic (in for Strinic) had to go off injured. However, they got level when star man Ivan Perisic drilled a fine shot home. Politano immediately put Rome back ahead, but a fierce free kick from Andrija Balic ensured we entered the break level. The game entered a lull until the 80th minute when a loose ball fell the way to Amato Ciciretti who put Rome back ahead. Split appeared to be heading for the exit, but in the 90th minute they were awarded a penalty and CB Josip Elez held his nerve to level things. But as thoughts turned to extra time, a loose ball in midfield gave Rome the ball, and a quick break resulted in the ball coming to Daniele de Rossi, who tucked it home to seal a dramatic 4-3 victory for Rome!
Elsewhere...
Bergen's plucky run was ended in brutal fashion, as Bilbao racked up a 5-0 win, the biggest of the tournament thus far.
Tbilisi and Sheffield seemed set for a goalless draw until the 89th minute when the Georgians were awarded a penalty for a shove by Luke Boden. Levan Mchedlidzi stepped up... but hit the crossbar! However, the ball rebounded to Jaba Kankava, who stuck it away to continue his teams' fairytale adventure!
Toulouse had the better of their match with Kyiv, but two penalties allowed the Ukrainians to win 2-1.
Finally, Andrej Kramaric's second-minute goal was the only one as Zagreb saw off Zurich in a game that is likely to have delivered more Zs from the crowd.
Bergen's plucky run was ended in brutal fashion, as Bilbao racked up a 5-0 win, the biggest of the tournament thus far.
Tbilisi and Sheffield seemed set for a goalless draw until the 89th minute when the Georgians were awarded a penalty for a shove by Luke Boden. Levan Mchedlidzi stepped up... but hit the crossbar! However, the ball rebounded to Jaba Kankava, who stuck it away to continue his teams' fairytale adventure!
Toulouse had the better of their match with Kyiv, but two penalties allowed the Ukrainians to win 2-1.
Finally, Andrej Kramaric's second-minute goal was the only one as Zagreb saw off Zurich in a game that is likely to have delivered more Zs from the crowd.
Amsterdam p1-1 Graz
Bilbao 5-0 Bergen
Nis e4-3 Birmingham
Rome 4-3 Split
Rotterdam 0-2 Manchester
Sheffield 0-1 Tbilisi
Toulouse 1-2 Kyiv
Zagreb 1-0 Zurich
Bilbao 5-0 Bergen
Nis e4-3 Birmingham
Rome 4-3 Split
Rotterdam 0-2 Manchester
Sheffield 0-1 Tbilisi
Toulouse 1-2 Kyiv
Zagreb 1-0 Zurich
At this stage in this tournament, it's just about getting through no matter how you do. Given the results we've seen, absolutely anyone can win. Next up is the quarter-finals...