City dominated long periods of their biggest game in over 30 years, and finally United's long-running, always haunting banner can be taken down, as City step up to the plate. Yaya Toure found the decisive blast from 10 yards to end all of the doubts over whether City can become a force in football, and finally silence the '35 years chants'.
After the final, the City players and staff paraded their own banner, stating that Manchester United's "35 YEARS" banner had to be reset or frozen. The banner read "00 YEARS" in white lettering on a black background. City vice-captain Vincent Kompany posed in front of the banner with the famous trophy clasped tightly in his hands.
Now onto the match: City began brightly, with Carlos Tevez's shot stinging the impressive gloves of Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal. Yaya Toure and Nigel de Jong also fired efforts just wide of the target, and a superb curling effort from Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli was saved equally as well as it was struck. Manchester City were in on goal again, as Carlos Tevez's excellently flighted ball found Mario Baloltelli in the six yard box. The Italian knocked it down for David Silva, who could only volley into the floor and see his shot bounce over the bar from five or six yards.
Stoke had offered nothing up front, and Manchester City should have been ahead.
In the second half: Manchester City started brightly again. Kolarov was played in down the left hand side, and instead of cutting back for Silva or Balotelli, decided to go for goal himself from a tight angle. The ball skewed horribly off his left foot and hit the side netting. Meanwhile, Stoke had managed to get themselves back into the game. Huth saw his header go wide, and Pennant had seen his shot blocked by Yaya Toure.
Carlos Tevez chased down a hopeful clearance and managed to play in Silva in front of goal. Silva's first touch let him down and allowed the Stoke defenders to get back and close the chance down. Manchester City managed to work another chance from the opportunity, but Tevez saw his shot deflected wide. Was it really going to be City's day?
A long ball from Etherington found Jones in the clear, but England #1 Joe Hart made sure the game stayed at 0-0, with a fine stop from point-blanc range. Stoke were really managing to find themselves a foothold in the game, and Manchester City were no longer completely on top. Were their missed chances about to come and bite them? Adam Johnson for Gareth Barry was the Manchester City change on 71 minutes.
On 73 minutes, Manchester City started a move down the right and managed to work the ball into Silva's feet, who had his back to goal on the edge of the area. His ball to Balotelli was returned with a back-hell flick to the edge of the six yard box. Balotelli stretched to get a shot away, and the ball ricocheted around the Stoke penalty area. Yaya Toure streamrollered his way through a crowd and thumped the ball hard, past the impressive Sorensen and the flailing arms and legs of every player in the box. Manchester City were one up in the FA Cup Final with 15 minutes to go.
The Sky Blues rode the Stoke storm by introducing Zabaleta and Vieira into the play. The City fans shot up in cheer at the final whistle, knowing that their 35 year wait was well and truly over. Only a club like Manchester City can produce an occasion like this, and they are occasions worth noting. Was this a watershed victory? Only time and trophies will tell. David Cameron was watching the FA Cup Final yesterday; will he be voting Toure instead of Tory at the next election?
Manchester City starting 11 ratings: Hart 7; Kompany 7; Lescott 7; Richards 8; Kolarov 6; de Jong 7; Yaya Toure 7; Barry 7; Silva 7; Balotelli 8; Tevez 7.
No comments:
Post a Comment