Man City draws Juve to top group

Man City draws Juve to top group

Published Dec. 16, 2010 8:20 p.m. ET

Manchester City qualified from Europa League Group A in first place after Jo scored a 77th-minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Juventus on Thursday.

Niccolo Giannetti's goal just before halftime had given Juventus the lead.

Manchester City and Lech Poznan both finished with 11 points, but City took top spot on goal difference. Juventus was already out of contention and drew all its games to finish third with six points. FC Salzburg finished fourth with two points.

"I am very happy because we wanted this and it was very important to finish top of the group," Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini said. "We have a chance to go all the way, but it is important to have a good draw for the next round and after that we will see."

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City started in determined mood and in the second minute Jo came close to scoring after Micah Richards whipped the ball across the face of goal.

Juventus defender Mohamed Sissoko forced goalkeeper Alex Manninger into a sharp save after his attempt to chest the ball back to the Austrian went wrong.

Alessandro Del Piero set up Giannetti for the opener with a low cross that the young striker clipped past Shay Given in the City goal.

City hit back strongly after the break. Jo headed wide and Adam Johnson's shot was deflected over the bar by Zdenek Grygera.

Milos Krasic forced Given into an athletic save in the 56th and Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie twice came close from a corner.

City equalized when Johnson played the ball into Jo in the penalty area. He spun and fired a low shot into the far corner of Manninger's goal.

"It was strange to concede the goal, but we played well, and for me this is important," Mancini said. "I did not expect to play against such a strong Juventus team. But in the end I think we deserved a draw."
 

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