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Manchester City booked their place in the last 32 of the Uefa Cup with an impressive victory away at Schalke.

Jermaine Jones was twice denied by City goalkeeper Joe Hart in the first half as the home side started brightly.

However, it was the visitors who went in front as Daniel Sturridge burst down the left flank before crossing for Benjani to finish from six yards.

Stephen Ireland had a goal ruled out for offside before he capped an all action display with City’s second.

City’s two victories from their opening two games mean they are through to the knockout stages as the other Group A game between Paris St Germain and Racing Santander ended in a draw.

City can only finish as low as third with two games to play and on the evidence of their performance in Gelsenkirchen on Thursday there is no reason why they can not remain top of their group.

Sturridge was drafted in for Robinho who was left in Manchester to recover from an ankle injury and the teenage striker was a constant threat down the left of a front three.

And with Ireland always willing to join the attack Schalke struggled to deal with City on the break.

0-1 Benjani 32′

0-2 Ireland 66′