A late Crag Bellamy brace proved enough as Manchester City comfortably won 2-1 against FC Copenhagen at Eastlands. With a 4-3 aggregate win Manchester City enter the last 16 of the Uefa Cup but boss Mark Hughes knows his team need to be more clinical in front of goal once they meet more accomplished opposition.
Ironically, their next opponents in the competition will again be from Denmark, Aalborg, who defeated the Spanish team Deportivo La Coruna.
After a quiet opening in which Copenhagen looked comfortable in possession, City started to look dangerous using the pace of Bellamy on a rain sodden pitch.
Twice he got behind a static Copenhagen defence, the first time he was incorrectly called offside but the second time he failed to find the onrushing Robinho.
The Brazilian then had an opening but cut inside and the ball was scrambled away.
Pablo Zabaleta shot weakly at Jesper Christiansen then the keeper clawed a Robinho header away from under the crossbar. The same player then wriggled his way into the area only for his shot to be palmed around the post.
Copenhagen looked ponderous as City threatened with almost every attack.
The visitors had a rare sight of goal when Ailton Almeida burst clear buy Shay Given easily blocked.
City continued to press but found it increasingly difficult to make much headway as the Danish outfit defended in depth.
Then, on the stroke of half time Robinho and Bellamy played a neat one-two, only for the Welshman's dinked shot to hit the inside of the post.
Again the Danes begin the half brightly and Brazilian striker Almeida fires just over Given's goal.
But City hit back almost immediately and Christiansen punched away Bellamy's free kick.
Shaun Wright Phillips is then put clear but his cross-cum-shot just evades Stephen Ireland at the far post.
City made all the running but were failing to make their superiority count not helped by some extremely dubious offside calls.
On 73 minutes the hosts dominance finally paid off, much to the relief of the 26,018 in attendance - Bellamy raced clear and fired home under the keepers body.
Robinho then missed a sitter from six yards but made amends when he set up Bellamy for his second of the night after 79 minutes.
Copenhagen enjoyed a late rally and substitute Martin Vingaard scored a consolation in injury time, but the final result was never in doubt.
"There was the satisfaction of winning and the satisfaction of progressing to the next round," said Hughes.
The former Wales boss had particular praise for goalscorer Bellamy, who nearly did not play due to the death of a close family member.
"He showed great character and wanted to play and he had the desired impact.
"I've worked with him a few times now, at Wales and with Blackburn, and I'm amazed at how much his game has moved onto the next level.
"He is a bargain, particularly as the price quoted whenever Craig is transferred is always inflated - we didn't pay £14m for him."
