Schalke 0-2 Manchester City: Benjani and Ireland score for City

For once Gelsenkirchen proved to be a field of dreams for an English team rather than a graveyard.

Two years ago, Wayne Rooney was sent off here, Frank Lampard, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard missed penalties as England crashed out of the World Cup to that winker Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese pals.

Last night there was only joy for Mark Hughes and his Manchester City side beneath the covered roof of Schalke's Veltins Arena as they all but booked their place in the next round of the UEFA Cup.

And once again Benjani proved to be City's man for the big occasion, popping up with the crucial opening goal to put down a marker for Sunday's Manchester derby.

The Zimbabwean striker has developed a flair for being City's talisman and he netted against Manchester United on his debut in their 2-0 win at Old Trafford back in February.

Benjani has now scored in both UEFA Cup group games for City and his return this month from a ruptured thigh could not be better timed for Hughes, who had challenged his side to prove they could cope without Robinho.

City have been over-reliant on their £32.5million striker and the Brazilian has netted half of the 18 goals scored by City's eight forwards.

But in Benjani, City have another potent option up front and the former Portsmouth hitman bagged 15 Premiership goals last season.

The only downer for the delirious City supporters was the PA announcer who wrongly addressed them "Man U fans" before later apologising for what she said was her "biggest mistake ever".

At least she didn't rub it in for City by saying it was a massive mistake.

Still, Hughes won't mind too much after earning City their first win in Germany - and their best in Europe for a generation - to increase the feel-good factor going into the derby.

Hughes had stiffened his defence by moving Vincent Kompany back to centre-half and playing Micah Richards at right-back and they were soon tested as Schalke put City under pressure.

Jemaine Jones, whose dad was a US airman in stationed in Frankfurt, broke through on the right and was only denied by a great save from Joe Hart before the City goalkeeper plucked a volley from the Schalke dangerman.

The Bundesliga side kept City pinned back and Ivan Rakitic's drive was blocked by Kompany as the visitors' defence creaked and groaned.

City barely threatened in the first half hour and the best effort they could manage was a Darius Vassell header from Javier Garrido's free-kick, which was saved by Manuel Neuer.

Then on 32 minutes they caught Schalke on the break to open the scoring. Daniel Sturridge escaped down the left, skinned Heiko Westermann, and although his cross was behind Stephen Ireland, it fell perfectly for Benjani to score his second of the season at the back post.

The goal changed the game completely and Schalke capitulated in front of their disbelieving fans to allow City to coast to victory.

Hughes' men went close to a second before half-time and Ireland had a shot saved before his second attempt was ruled out for offside.

It was all City now and Shaun Wright-Phillips, operating alongside Sturridge and Vassell behind Benjani, saw a 25-yard effort saved before the Blues doubled their lead on 66 minutes.

Neuer could only parry Benjani's shot and Ireland pounced to slot home his eighth goal of a great season for the Irishman.

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