Manchester City's players trudged off the field. Many fans left early. The final whistle was greeted with only a smattering of cheers.
It was hardly the way the English club envisaged marking progress to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in its history.
Another landmark feat for Abu Dhabi-owned City was achieved on Tuesday thanks to a lackluster 0-0 draw with Dynamo Kiev at Etihad Stadium, which sealed a 3-1 victory on aggregate. Progress came with little fanfare and at a cost, with captain Vincent Kompany hobbling off in the fifth minute with a recurrence of his long-standing calf problems that could keep him out for a month.
"It was really satisfying to make history for this club," City defender Pablo Zabaleta, although it was hard to tell by the end.
Injuries to Kompany and fellow center back Nicolas Otamendi, who hobbled off in the 23rd after a clash of knees, were the major incidents in a soporific match as City advanced with the minimum of concern but without impressing, either.
Kiev, seeking a first Champions League quarterfinal berth since 1999, needed to score three goals to stand a chance of advancing but barely threatened until creating a couple of opportunities in the final minutes. City's reorganized defense stayed relatively solid and the team took few risks, with winger Jesus Navas striking a 61st-minute shot against the post for City's best chance.
"Unfortunately we have lost our match in Kiev," Dynamo coach Sergei Rebrov said.
Source: USA Today.
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