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On every path towards success come moments of trouble, trials in which those making the journey must overcome to help them continue down the road and believe they can reach the end. In the 93rd minute of Wednesdays match in Russia, that moment for Manchester Citys Champions League journey took place. Having dominated the game for large patches, City found themselves holding just a one-goal advantage when CSKA Moscows talisman Keisuke Honda arrived at the back post unmarked to receive a ball that look destined to give City that sinking Champions League feeling once again. As the ball sat up perfectly for the Japanese international to swing his preferred left leg towards it, images of the clubs late loss at Real Madrid last season will have flooded the minds of City fans everywhere. That game at the Bernabeu was supposed to be the turning point. Under Roberto Mancini, City had failed to get out of their group in their first year of the Champions League, despite getting a respectable 10 points, narrowly losing out to giants Bayern Munich and the competitions pure entertainers in Napoli. In Madrid, they kicked off their second Champions League campaign as Premier League champions and had a swagger and belief that they now belonged on the top table amongst the biggest clubs in the game. Their second half performance that day was outstanding and they fully deserved the lead they took with five minutes left, through Aleksandar Kolarov, but their hearts were broken into bits when Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the last three minutes to send City home with nothing. City were shellshocked, their manager turned on goalkeeper Joe Hart for his open and candid comments after the game and they never recovered, failing to win any of their five remaining games and missing out on the knock out stages for a second straight year. Citys dismal performance in Europes top competition had to change and Manuel Pellegrini, who guided Villarreal and Malaga to surprising success in the Champions League, was earmarked as the man to do it. UEFAs ranking system in this tournament is strongly tipped in favour of teams who perform well in it. City, much like an out-of-town, rich gambler showing up to a casino where no one knew him, have to prove themselves to UEFA to help them become one of the elite clubs. They may be flush with cash but in the Champions League draw they are given no favours. Once again, they were ranked in pot three this season and faced a realistic possibility of being handed a third difficult group in as many years. Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen was certainly not an easy draw but, definitely, represented their best chance yet of reaching the knocking stages. A win in the Czech Republic against Plzen had City starting their campaign off in fine form but when they were outplayed by Bayern Munich at home, some questioned whether they were good enough at this level once again. The criticism was harsh, after all the German champions are the reigning European champions, but City knew if they were going to progress past the group stages they would have to do well in games three and four in the group. In the Champions League, teams play each other, home and away, on matchdays three and four and, by coincidence, it has been these games that City have struggled in during the past two years. Last year, in a group with Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax, City had a chance to push for a knock out spot against the then Dutch champions who were struggling in the league at the time. Instead, City lost 3-1 in Amsterdam and drew 2-2 at home to end all chances of qualifying. In year one, they played Spanish side Villarreal and, although won both matches, were very fortunate in the first game when Sergio Aguero scored in the 93rd minute to give them a 2-1 win. Villarreal were a poor side and would get relegated from La Liga later that year. After two matchdays, this season it was clear that Bayern, having beaten CSKA and City, were the class of the group with the other two, each beating Plzen, having to battle for the final spot out of the group. That meant Citys game in Russia was arguably their biggest game of the season. With the quality at their disposal, City absolutely should be playing Champions League knockout matches this season. It is what Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarek demands, what Director of football Txiki Begiristain expects and what manager Pellegrini and his players need. When CSKA, against the run of play, took the lead on 32 minutes through former Manchester United man Zoran Tosic, it was a time for Citys top players to stand up and be counted. "At the moment, they are in serious trouble in this group," stated veteran commentator Martin Tyler. He was, of course, correct and the words definitely were all too familiar for City. Seconds later David Silva, the true space invader, found room between the lines to receive a pass from Kolarov before sprinting towards the box and attracting three defenders towards him. The Spaniard had one quick glance to his left, sent a ball into the six yard box for Aguero to run towards and he got the better of his defender to poke home the equalizer. Eight minutes later, the Argentine superstar headed City into a 2-1 lead, to cap off a fantastic week for him and an excellent first half for his side. City had to fight hard for their lead, had even given CSKA an opening goal, but, in truth, could have been out of sight, having squandered three excellent scoring chances in the first 45 minutes. The second half was a more measured, professional display from the visitors who showed calmness and maturity while leading and it appeared they were on their way to a comfortable win, despite what the scoreline suggested. Then the ball sat up perfectly and Hondas left foot connected perfectly. The ball blasted towards the goal, but instead of the net bulging and the home crowd erupting, another key left leg came into play as Hart, positioned brilliantly, performed a magnificent, instinctive save to rescue the game and secure three points. Three points. Endless ramifications. City had done it. Finally they won a key, difficult away match in the Champions League. They, now with six points after three group games for the first time in their history, are heading home for matches against CSKA and Plzen, which means they very much should secure qualification before their final match (away at Bayern.) Two home European nights that now give them a real opportunity to show Europe who they are. City are too talented to play a nervous, tentative style that has so often haunted them in the Champions League so far. In Moscow on Wednesday, they werent perfect - Vincent Kompany is almost irreplaceable when injured- but they were very good. Gone was the narrow, negative, passive style under Mancini when they were forever chasing a top two spot. They have got their swagger back, led by legitimate world class stars in Aguero, Toure and Silva, and now they are on the right path towards Champions League knockout qualification. As a likely group runner-up they will be the team no one will want. By then City will be where they finally belong, all thanks to Harts left leg. NEW YORK -- Jameis Winston left voters no choice but to give him the Heisman Trophy. The Florida State quarterback became the second straight freshman to win the Heisman on Saturday night, earning college footballs most prestigious individual award with a performance so spectacular and dominant that even a criminal investigation couldnt derail his candidacy. "I cannot explain the feeling that I have inside right now," Winston said. "Im so overwhelmed. Its awesome." When his name was announced, he popped from his seat and quickly made his way to his mom and dad for hugs and kisses. He smiled and laughed through most of his acceptance speech, but got a little choked up when he talked about his parents. "When you see your mom and your dad and theyve been struggling through this whole process it was nice to see a smile on their faces," he said. Winston received 668 first-place votes and 2,205 points. He finished 1,501 points ahead of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron for the seventh-largest margin of victory in Heisman history, despite being left off 115 of the 900 ballots that were returned. Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch was third, followed by Boston Colleges Andre Williams, Texas A&Ms Johnny Manziel and Auburns Tre Mason. Manziel was the first freshman to win the Heisman, and was trying to join Ohio States Archie Griffin as a two-time winner. Instead, Winston made it two freshman winners in the 79-year history of the Heisman. He also became the youngest winner at 23 days short of 20. The 19-year-old also was investigated last month for a year-old sexual assault complaint, but no charges were filed and the case was closed four days before Heisman votes were due. "People trusted me and saw us play," Winston said. Winston is the nations top-rated passer and has led the top-ranked Seminoles to a spot in the BCS championship game against No. 2 Auburn on Jan. 6, his birthday. The former five-star recruit from Bessemer, Ala., made college football look easy from his very first game. On Labor Day night, on national television, Winston went 25 for 27 for 356 yards and four touchdowns in a victory at Pittsburgh. It was a brilliant debut that lived up to the off-season hype, when Winston wowed Florida State fans in the Seminoles spring football game and on the baseball diamond as a hard-throwing reliever and clutch-hitting outfielder. He had already earned the nickname Famous Jameis before he ever played a college football game. And he quickly became one of the most beloved Seminoles since Charlie Ward, the 1993 Heisman winner. Winston is the third Seminoles quarterback to win the award, along with Chris Weinke in 2000. Winston and Florida State were cruising toward an undefeated seeason when news broke of an unresolved sexual assault complaint against him made to the Tallahassee Police Department last December.dddddddddddd The dormant case was handed over to the state attorneys office for a full investigation. A female student at Florida State accused Winston of rape. Winstons attorney said the sex was consensual. During three weeks of uncertainty, Winston continued to play sensationally, especially in Florida States big games against Clemson and Miami, while other contenders stumbled or failed to distinguish themselves. If voters were looking to Manziel or McCarron or Lynch or Williams or even Marcus Mariota of Oregon to give them a good alternative to Winston, it didnt happen. Mason made a late surge and ended up in New York because of the lack of serious challengers to Winston. The Heisman Trust mission statement says: "The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity." Its a statement that has put the Heisman in awkward situations before. In 2010, Cam Newton played the season under the cloud of an NCAA investigation. He had also had legal troubles while in college. But like Winston, there was no doubt he was the best player and he won the award. Before last season, Manziel was arrested after being involved in a fight and providing police fake ID. It didnt stop Johnny Football from winning the Heisman. Johnny Rodgers, the 1972 winner from Nebraska, pleaded guilty to a felony after helping to hold up a gas station as a freshman in 1970. He was pardoned earlier this year. Reggie Bush had his 2005 Heisman stripped after the NCAA determined he had violated its rules during that season. But the Heisman trust did not ask Billy Cannon and O.J. Simpson to return their Heismans after serving jail time. The accusations against Winston were serious and documents released by the police with the accusers allegations were not flattering to him. It probably explains why so many voters left him out of their top three. Last year Manziel appeared on 92 per cent of the ballots. Winston appeared on 87 per cent this year. There was no doubting his on-the-field credentials. Winston is on pace (190.1) to break Russell Wilsons record for best passer efficiency rating in a season and set FBS freshman records for yards passing (3,820) and touchdown passes (38). Florida States average margin of victory is 42 points, and Winston has spent most of the Seminoles fourth quarters resting. The investigation has taken some of the shine off Winstons Heisman coronation, at least for some. But if the question is simply who was college footballs best player in 2013, Famous Jameis was the clear answer. 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