Cesar heroics earn QPR draw against Manchester City

Manchester City faltered in their pursuit of neighbours Manchester United, leaving the latter the opportunity to reopen a 7-point gap over the reigning champions. This was largely due to some heroic ‘keeping from QPR’s former Inter Milan custodian, Julio Cesar, while QPR themselves had a few gilt edged chances which went begging. All in all, a further step towards safety for QPR, under Harry Redknapp, while at the same time, a blow to City’s title aspirations.

It was a strange looking partnership in the heart of defence for the visitors, as Kompany was ruled out of the game due to the knock he picked up over the weekend, while Nastasic started on the bench, not being fit enough to start. This meant that the likes of Loic Remy and Adel Taarabt were up against the unlikely combination of Joleon Lescott and Javi Garcia, while Fabio played in an unusual midfield role for the Rangers, attempting to keep a check on David Silva.

Just under the ten minute mark, the Spanish midfielder nearly gave his team the lead with a direct attempt from a corner, but was denied in shaky manner by Julio Cesar, who was not helped much by the wayward winds on the night. In fact, the awkward conditions dominated much of the play over the opening period, with Cesar being caused all sorts of problems from similar situations. The closest either team got to a goal over the first twenty minutes though, was when Silva traipsed his way past three QPR defenders, before lobbing a measured ball onto the head of the advancing Zabaleta. The Argentinian full back, however, could do nothing more than hit the cross bar with a powerful header from around the penalty spot.

A few minutes later, QPR nearly caught the visitors off guard when a quickly taken free kick gave Remy a sight of goal, and his shot took a deflection off Garcia’s heel, before rolling harmlessly wide for a corner. Sergio Aguero then put the ball in the back of the net with a good finish from close range, but saw the goal disallowed, having received the ball in an offside position. QPR seemed sharp on the attack, whenever they did get a chance, and it was up to Joe Hart to deny Adel Taarabt an almost certain goal after a fluid counter attack from the home side had put the Israeli attacker in a position to score.

Soon after, another fine save was made, this time by Cesar when he dove to his right to deny a Barry volley which was heading into the bottom corner of the net. Thus, in spite of plenty of opportunities to break the deadlock, the teams went in at halftime with the game remaining goalless.

There was much lesser substantial action in the second half, although both teams seemed more eager to create something than they did in the first. The introduction of Edin Dzeko added a new dimension to City’s attack, but it was Taarabt who came closer to scoring when he dribbled inside from the left flank, and had a curled attempt fly just wide of the post. City threatened plenty, and nearly capitalized through a fierce David Silva volley, but it was Cesar who had the better of their contest, by managing to gather it in his arms.

Sergio Aguero, under a bit of pressure, had the next great chance, as a header across the ball from Zabaleta found the Argentine, but his volley was wayward and soared away into the stands. QPR nearly had a penalty when new man, Loic Remy, seemed to have been tripped by Joleon Lescott, but Phil Dowd deemed the contact insufficient to punish. It was just as well too, considering that it would have been a harsh decision at best, and would have likely produced an unfair result.

Another close range effort from Silva was easily kept out by Cesar, who seemed like a man at the top of his game after the initial blunders, and gave City little chance of getting past him. Yet another penalty claim was waved away by the referee, this time from Scott Sinclair, after he had been caught by Nedum Onuoha, leaving the score as it was at the beginning of the match.

Result: QPR 0 – 0 Manchester City