Given's the hero as nervous City edge out Danish side on penalties.

Aalborg 2

Manchester City 0

(After extra time; Manchester City win 4-3 on penalties)

MANCHESTER City snatched a place in the Uefa Cup quarter-finals last night despite a dramatic late collapse in Aalborg.

Protecting a 2-0 lead from the first leg, City were within five minutes of a place in the last eight when the Danes staged a late fightback thanks to goals from Luton Shelton and Michael Jakobsen.

The game went to extra time and penalties and former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given spared City's blushes by saving from Thomas Augustinussen and Shelton.

Vincent Kompany returned to bolster the midfield for City. The Belgian, out for a fortnight with a toe injury, passed a late fitness test to take his place in the side to face Aalborg in Denmark. Ched Evans was also preferred up front to Felipe Caicedo.

City were protecting a 2-0 aggregate lead..

Robinho, fit to feature after concerns over an ankle injury, looked to create an opening after collecting a cross-field ball from Wright-Phillips - but his shot was blocked.

Evans also shaped to shoot after a Wayne Bridge cross ran through the box. But his first touch was heavy, and the opportunity passed.

Stephen Ireland got in the first clear shot at goal with 16 minutes on the clock, but his effort curled over.

City were making most of the early running, and Micah Richards should have crossed better after being set clear by Wright-Phillips. Kasper Bogelund found space for Aalborg on the right, but his tame cross was gathered by Shay Given.

Anders Due sent a dangerous cross into the City box, but Nedum Onuoha just got ahead of former Sheffield United forward Luton Shelton to put behind for a corner.

Jamaica international Shelton was also thwarted by Onuoha as he tried to cross, after finding room on the right.

Robinho jinked his way to the byline as City pushed late in the first half, but goalkeeper Karim Kaza stopped his ambitious shot with his foot.

Pablo Zabaleta curled in a shot after the ball broke to him from the resulting corner - but it drifted wide.

Aalborg appealed for a penalty early in the second half when Kasper Risgard went down under Kompany's challenge as Michael Jakobsen floated in a cross, but referee Stephane Lannoy was unimpressed.

At the other end, Ireland created an opportunity for Evans - but the Wales international managed to skew his shot and somehow clear the stand from 10 yards.

City survived a scare moments later as Shelton nodded down to Caca. But the Brazilian's low, drilled shot just went wide of Given's left-hand post.

Aalborg had stronger and more vociferous penalty claims turned down on the hour when substitute Javier Garrido felled Andreas Johansson in a 50-50 challenge.

Frenchman Lannoy was immediately surrounded by home players, but City were reprieved. Aalborg were starting to show greater urgency, and a low ball beat all in the City box - but the visitors managed to clear. Michael Beauchamp tried to win another penalty but was booked for diving.

Johansson, a former Wigan player, had a shot deflected for a corner.

Shelton then fired at goal from close range, but Given saved one-handed.

City capitulated in the final six minutes - as the Danes remarkably broke through to force extra-time.

First Shelton blasted home from close range as the ball bounced up invitingly inside the area. It set up a nervy finale, and City were unable to hang on as Evans handled a Jakobsen header in the last minute. This time the referee did point to the spot, and Jakobsen stepped up to smash into the top of the net.

CAPTION(S):

TUSSLE Aalborg's Kasper Risgaard takes on Robinho.