City wins League Cup Final against Sunderland

[Basil]

City wins League Cup Final against Sunderland​

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Wembley: Manchester City fought off the ghosts of last year’s FA Cup final defeat, responding marvellously to Manuel Pellegrini’s quietly inspiring words at the interval to win the Capital One Cup with a second-half display of power going forward and precision in front of goal.

City were deservedly trailing at the break, failing to match the hunger of Gus Poyet’s gutsy, well-organised Sunderland, and being caught out by Fabio Borini’s goal. When his under-performing players had assembled in the dressing-room, Pellegrini told them they had “45 minutes to change the score”, adding they had to “be calm and patient and trust in what you do”.

City’s manager admitted that “maybe last year worked in their minds in the first half”. Banishing the spectre of another Wembley defeat, City were transformed, playing with the urgency so painfully lacking in the first period. City fans responded to the raised tempo, exhorting their players on and celebrating wildly three astonishing strikes, first from Yaya Touré, then Samir Nasri and finally Jesús Navas.

Overall, it was a fair result. City were phenomenal in the second half, blowing Sunderland away with their power on the break and the devastating nature of their finishing. Touré was outstanding through the middle, Nasri was voted man of the match and Vincent Kompany was a true leader.

Having collected the cup, Kompany walked across the pitch to the parade stand in front of the fans and photographers. As Hey Jude flowed from the giant speakers, the fans tweaking the words to “City”, Kompany placed the silverware gently on the podium, rearranging the ribbons with all the attention to detail of a window-display expert in Hatton Garden.


As the players gathered either side of Kompany, fireworks exploded into life behind them. Mario Balotelli would have loved it. Corks pursued the rockets skywards. Champagne was sprayed around. Touré, a devout Muslim, moved away from the throng, clutching his isotonic drink.

The jubilant City party was joined by the coach Brian Kidd, the 64-year-old leaping up and down like a teenager. Kidd has won the European Cup here, yet his love of trophies remains undimmed. Coaches and players then moved closer towards the supporters. Kompany leant over to collect a Belgian flag. Navas twirled a City scarf.

Oasis played as Noel Gallagher looked on. The triumphal music continued but Joleon Lescott could be forgiven for looking back in anger after playing in all the previous rounds but being an unused substitute here. None of the 14 used by Pellegrini was English.

James Milner walked around, shaking hands. Joe Hart hugged Nasri as the Frenchman walked towards the tunnel.

Pellegrini finally marched to the dressing-room, handing the trophy to Kompany, who was fittingly the last off the pitch. City’s captain made a key challenge on Borini to prevent Sunderland seizing a 2-0 lead before the break. He rallied his players in the second half.

If City took the trophy back from London, Sunderland took pride, an emotion that could serve them well in the fight against relegation. For 45 minutes, Sunderland dared to dream. For 45 unforgettable minutes, Sunderland revived memories of 1973 and the famous FA Cup final victory over Leeds United. This half, and particularly a stunning goal from Borini, was what Sunderland supporters had been hoping for as they took over Covent Garden and other parts of central London on Saturday night and Sunday morning, painting the town red and white.

Stoked by their fans, Sunderland started at breakneck pace. Gus Poyet’s 4-2-3-1 tactics were good, giving numbers in midfield, neutralising Touré for 45 minutes. Their hunger was greater than City’s for a half. Phil Bardsley flew in on David Silva, putting down the Spaniard, putting down a marker. Sunderland were awesome in the first half, defending gutsily, hounding City in midfield and breaking so incisively with Borini taking that 10th-minute goal so beautifully.

Lee Cattermole nicked the ball, and Seb Larsson took over, passing to Adam Johnson on the right. Borini made his move down the inside-right channel, putting in a momentary shuffle to throw Martin Demichelis off the scent, and Johnson delivered the perfect pass. For a defender of Kompany’s qualities, the Belgian made a rare error, misjudging the flight of the ball, and the speed of Borini’s run and desperately trying to hook the ball clear. It rebounded into Borini’s chin, bounced down, and the striker on loan from Liverpool then took a touch, teeing the ball up. As the studs of his left boot planted into the turf, providing the stability, Borini caught the ball with the outside of his right boot sending it speeding past Costel Pantilimon.

With the likes of Dennis Tueart and Jim Montgomery looking on, it was clear that the Roker Roar lived on in north London. Sunderland’s captain John O’Shea, Cattermole and the rest of Poyet’s players matched the passion of their supporters. Borini had a shot deflected over by Edin Dzeko. From the ensuing Larsson corner, Wes Brown headed over. This lead was no fluke.

They had to withstand occasional City flurries in the first half. Vito Mannone pushed a shot away from Sergio Agüero, then clutched a snatched strike from Nasri. Sunderland defended superbly. Bardsley intercepted a Nasri cross. Borini cleared a Nasri corner. When Agüero sprinted into the box, Marcos Alonso timed his tackle perfectly.

Then came that moment after 38 minutes when Kompany slid in to clear from under the feet of Borini as he ran into the box. Then came that calming talk from Pellegrini. Within 10 minutes, City were level. Within 105 seconds after that, City were ahead. The pressure of their heavyweight talent was probably always going to tell but City certainly emerged from the tunnel a renewed force, playing with greater urgency.

Touré began the move to the equaliser, placing the ball right to Pablo Zabaleta before moving towards the full-back to collect the return. Touré met the ball almost nonchalantly, disguising his intentions, and sending it curling powerfully away from the stretching Mannone from 30 yards. Sunderland were angered, believing that Larsson had been fouled in the build-up.

City’s second was arguably better. Pantilimon saw that Sunderland’s defenders were out of position and lifted a long kick towards Agüero. The Argentine played the ball to Aleksandar Kolarov, whose cross was met brilliantly by Nasri. The Frenchman’s first-time strike sped past Mannone. Now it was City fans triumphant, revelling in one of the best finals in recent years.

Touré made the third. Moments after Steven Fletcher had wasted a wonderful opportunity, the substitute not trusting his right foot when the situation demanded a first-time shot, Fernandinho broke up another Sunderland attack and passed to Touré. The tall Ivorian charged through the middle, slid the ball right to Navas, who fired firmly between Mannone and his left-hand upright. Mannone got a hand briefly to the ball but City, deservedly, had both hands on the cup.

Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1: City win Capital One Cup final at Wembley - match report - Telegraph

 

[iSK]

Good update Basil Bro