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Louis Massingham Rowell 84 |
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Left my room at about 17:00 and walked to Chester station. Got the delayed 17:22 train to Manchester Piccadilly and got in at about 18:40. Walked from Piccadilly to the ground which took about 30 mins. Walked round some of the ground and went queued up to get into ground at 19:20 but didn''t get into seat until 19:40. Sat in the family stand behind the goal opposite the away fans who were amazing all night long and singing all game long. City started the game strongly and for about the first 15 mins completely dominated the ball and the game. They moved the ball very well and managed to open the scoring about 10 mins into the game. Sane, who was City best player on the night, drove at the defence before playing the ball out wide to B Silva who crossed to the back post for Jesus to tap in. At this point I was thinking that it would be a very heavy win for City given how earlier they had scored and how they were completely dominating the game. However, about 5 mins after the City goal Basel grew into the game and had a few good chances before scoring after about 20 mins after a deflected cross found its way to a Basel player in the box who had loads of time to rocket a shot passed Bravo in goal. Both sides showed good intensity and energy in the 1st half and created a few chances throughout. City, however, were quite sloppy in possession of the ball and the high pressing from Basel meant that City were getting dispossessed in dangerous areas. It was 1-1 at HT with Basel being the better side for the latter part of the half. Second half wasn''t the greatest affair with City lacking any intent to win the game or get the ball forward. Basel had a couple of chances and if they had committed more men forward, I reckon they could''ve caused City a lot more trouble given the fact they were not on the ball. Basel took a deserved lead on about 70 mins after good play down the right flank followed by a shot that was riffled home by the Basel player. Even after this, City showed no intent in getting forward apart from the impressive Diaz and Sane. Toure was slacking in CM and looked very lazy. In the end the game finished 1-2 which was a deserved result given the lack of energy or intensity from City to do anything in the last 75 mins of the game. Walked back to Piccadilly station and got the 22:12 train back to Chester getting back in my room at about 23:40 ish.
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