A SAMIR NASRI bullet and a late goal by Pablo Zabaleta saw Manchester City into the last 16 of the Champions League after a stunning 2-0 win over Roma at a packed Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.
City, requiring at least a score-draw to go through to the knock-out phase, were dominated for large periods of the match but Nasri turned the game around on the hour when he fired an unstoppable shot past Morgan De Sanctis from 25 metres.
The goal left Roma requiring two goals to qualify for the knock-out phase, but after the Serie A side spurned a series of late chances, City rubbed salt into their wounds in the 86th minute when Zabaleta swept Nasri’s low delivery past De Sanctis for his first Champions League goal.
City’s win left Manuel Pellegrini’s men second in Group E behind already-qualified Bayern Munich, with Roma finishing third to drop into the Europa League.
City’s best chance of the half fell to James Milner after 20 minutes but De Sanctis was down low quickly to block the midfielder’s shot from the left.
Roma had claims for a penalty waved away on the stroke of half-time when Gervinho tumbled under pressure in the box after a well-worked move with Francesco Totti, Miralem Pjanic and Ljajic.
City looked a lot brighter after the restart with Roma pegged in for the opening 10 minutes until some slick play by Gervinho down the right had the Giallorossi fans out of their seats.
Pjanic then forced Hart into a two-handed block with an effort from 20 metres out, but minutes later City were in front.
Nasri took possession over 25 metres out and as Seydou Keita backed off, the Frenchman fired an angled drive past De Sanctis and into the net in off the near post.
http://vine.co/v/O6BP2QHOgV9
Minutes later Nainggolan unleashed a piercing shot while caught in among City bodies but Hart blocked with a two-handed save.
Twice in succession Roma spurned the chance to level, Kostas Manolas’s header powering off a beaten Hart’s post from a corner and then Mattia Destro’s effort from Pjanic’s corner being blocked at the back post moments later.
Those misses proved costly, and as the final whistle approached concentration levels lapsed.
Nasri held the ball up well and after a feint in front of Holebas sent Zabaleta through to beat De Sanctis from close range.
http://vine.co/v/O6BL6ejeJHV
