Europa League: Dynamo Kiev 2 Manchester City 0

Manchester City’s European dreams are hanging by a thread after they were trounced 2-0 at Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League on Thursday.

Former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko and Oleg Gusev got on the scoresheet in either half for Dynamo, who will take a handy advantage into the second leg of their last-16 tie next Thursday.

Gusev’s late goal would have been particularly galling for City boss Roberto Mancini, who would have fancied City’s chances had they hosted the Ukrainian outfit at City of Manchester Stadium with just one goal in arrears.

But the Citizens now face a serious challenge to their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals, and will rue not making the most of several opportunities to take an away goal against Dynamo.

City had the best of the first-half action with Mario Balotelli, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolorov all going close, but it was Dynamo who broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.

Shevchenko, who left Chelsea during the 2009/10 season after a disappointing stint at Stamford Bridge, won a corner and then stole in front of City goalkeeper Joe Hart to meet Andriy Yarmolenko’s cross at the near post.

City returned to the pitch in the second half with just 10 men as Mario Balotelli failed to reappear from the dressing room due an apparent allergic reaction.

The Italian eventually ran out about 15 seconds into the half, though he lasted just 10 minutes before being replaced by Carlos Tevez.

Tevez’s introduction nearly lifted City to an equaliser, with Dynamo custodian Olexandr Shovkovskiy producing a fine save to deny Yaya Toure on the hour mark and another soon after to cut off Joleon Lescott’s attempt.

But with 13 minutes remaining, Gusev broke City hearts with a second goal. The Ukraine international found room to bring down Yarmolenko’s cross and smashed a volley into the top-right corner.