Manchester City 3-3 Sunderland
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini on his side’s 3-3 draw with Sunderland: “It was a crazy game, a very emotional game. We didn’t play well but we have a chance again. It was very important to play well but we didn’t. We defended very badly. We made mistakes. I’m not happy with our performance.”
And on whether title rivals Manchester United will slip up against Blackburn in their next game? “They can do a draw on Monday, why not? Are we still in the title race? I think so because eight games is enough to do two draws. It’s normal. Until we have a point to win this league we will try until the end. I’m sure that we will do better [against Arsenal next week] than today.
LINE-UPS Man City v Sunderland
Man City: Hart, Richards, Toure, Kompany, Kolarov, Milner, De Jong, Toure Yaya, Silva, Balotelli, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Clichy, Pizarro, Barry, Johnson, Tevez, Zabaleta.
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Turner, Kilgallon, Colback, Larsson, Gardner, Cattermole, McClean, Sessegnon, Bendtner. Subs: Westwood, Campbell, Richardson, Vaughan, Ji, Meyler, Kyrgiakos.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
GOAL Man City 0-1 Sunderland – Seb Larsson (31 mins)
A huge goal in the title race, this one, because Manchester City are behind for the third match in succession. Stephane Sessegnon rolls the ball across the edge of the area for Seb Larsson, who is in acres of space to sidefoot the ball between the diving Joe Hart and his left-hand post. It is against the run of play, but Sunderland are ahead.
GOAL Man City 1-1 Sunderland – Mario Balotelli
A penalty gave Manchester City a way out of the woods against Chelsea in their last game at the Etihad Stadium and they are level here because of a spot-kick. Sunderland aren’t happy but the reason this spot-kick is given is because Craig Gardner blocks off Edin Dzeko inside the box. Gardner might have been trying to get out of the way but there was definite contact. Referee Phil Dowd points to the spot and Mario Balotelli steps up to slam home the penalty.
GOAL Man City 1-2 Sunderland – Nicklas Bendtner (45 mins)
Another twist in the title race and it’s not a good one from Manchester City’s point of view. They go to sleep at the back on the stroke of half-time and are ruthlessly punished. From a quick free-kick, the energetic Stephane Sessegnon clips in a delicious cross for Nicklas Bendtner to rise to nod home. City boss Roberto Mancini is apoplectic on the sidelines because his side will be behind at the break.
GOAL Man City 1-3 Sunderland – Seb Larsson
Are Man City’s title hopes disappearing down the drain? It appears so, because Sunderland are further ahead thanks to a deadly counter-attack. Stephane Sessegnon’s perfectly-weighted ball releases Nicklas Bendtner, who is behind the City defence on the right, and he sends over a perfect cross for Seb Larsson to slide the ball past Joe Hart from close range. City have been poor today, but Sunderland have been sensational.
GOAL Man City 2-3 Sunderland – Mario Balotelli (85 mins)
Hello drama. Hello twists. We were busy writing Manchester City’s title hopes off. Then this happened. First, City’s pressure paid off when Mario Balotelli rifled home through a crowd of players from the edge of the area.
GOAL Man City 3-3 Sunderland – Aleksandar Kolarov (86 mins)
And, within seconds, City are level. A cross from the right isn’t cleared and Aleksandar Kolarov chests down the loose ball, makes space for a shot and slams home. Wow! City’s title hopes are alive, again, but can they get a winner?
Tags: Barclays premier league highlights, Man City, Manchester City vs Sunderland, Sunderland
Barclays Premier League highlights Clubs Highlights Man City Sunderland
