Man City fails to reach Europa League

DORTMUND, Germany (AP)

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Tuesday, December 4
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Julian Schieber scored in the second half for Borussia Dortmund to beat Manchester City 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, ending the English champions' chances of reaching the Europa League.

Schieber scored in the 57th minute following a perfectly timed low cross from the right by substitute Jakub Blaszczykowski. Schieber slid between City defenders Vincent Kompany and Maicon to tap the ball into the net.

Dortmund was already assured of winning Group D, while City needed a victory to qualify for European football's second-tier club competition. But City didn't win a match all season to finish one point behind Ajax, which lost 4-1 on Tuesday at Real Madrid, the group runner-up.

The German champions finished the group with 14 points, three more than Madrid. Ajax took third and entry into the Europa League.

Dortmund started the match without six regulars but still controlled the game with City displaying little fighting spirit.

''Not so bad,'' the rarely used Schieber said after scoring his first Champions League goal. ''I am glad that we won and that we justified the confidence our coach had in us. Although we don't get to play that often, we showed that we can be relied on.''

The action in a lackluster first half boiled down to several long-distance attempts.

Edin Dzeko's effort was turned away by Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller. On the other side, Marco Reus shaved the post of Joe Hart's goal. The City goalkeeper also stopped a shot by Ivan Perisic late in the first half.

City returned from the break with more ambition, and Dzeko's header from a cross by Samir Nasri was saved by Weidenfeller.

Dortmund nearly went ahead in the 49th, but Mats Hummels failed to connect with a cross from Marcel Schmelzer.

Hart then tipped over a volley from Perisic and another attempt by Kevin Grosskreutz, before Schieber found the target.

CLOSING TIME

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Schieber attempted a chip in the 59th but Hart caught the ball.

Mario Balotelli came on in the 65th for Dzeko, to loud jeers from Dortmund fans. The striker scored both goals for Italy in the semifinal win over Germany at the European Championships earlier this year.

Balotelli's main contribution was to earn a yellow card in injury time for protesting a decision by the referee.