MANCHESTER CITY 3
STOKE CITY 0
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| pic: bbc sports |
Well it was the first game of 2013 as City were looking to build on their 4-3 victory down at Norwich last Saturday. The Champions going into this match, Had a 8 game unbeaten streak against the Potters from Stoke and were hoping to make it 9 after this encounter.
The Blues boss Roberto Mancini, Had made a couple of changes to the squad with Serbian defender Matija Nastasic moved to the bench as Joleon Lescott made his 8th start of the season. And the other change in the team was Milner coming in for the suspended Sami Nasri.
Stoke had a 4 changes to their squad too with Adam, Cameron, Jerome and Shawcross in the side. Stoke were on their best unbeaten run in the premier league with 10 games, with their last defeat coming against Norwich City back on Novemeber 3rd.
So as the game got underway, It was the Home side who dominated the game from kick off to be honest. City could have been ahead after a minute, As Sergio Aguero had beat a Stoke defender in the area but his effort at the near post was saved by Begovic to give Stoke a little warning of what was coming.
A great ball from deep was run onto by Aguero who took it down well, But his shot just went over the bar while also dealing with a Stoke player too.
Yaya Toure who is always seems to be a thorn in the sides of Stoke when he comes up against them, Had a couple of wild attempts that went that high and wide. They may well be ending up in South Africa, Where the City Trio of Abdul Razak and his brother Kolo Toure are soon to be heading off too in the African Nations cup.
Dzeko had a effort from a fast break, As Silva & Toure galloped ahead on the attack, linking up with the Bosnian striker. He got a good pass and after he made space his effort however, went way wide of the Stoke goal.
City had another chance to break the deadlock as the smallest man on the pitch David Silva had a header go just over, As he was unmarked from a James Milner corner.
Another chance fell to the Argentinian hitman Aguero as a ball from Milner was cut out just before it reached him near the penalty spot. But Milner and Stoke player battled for the ball in the area leading to City getting a couple of bodies back in the box, And Milner crossed a beautiful ball in only for Aguero header to hit the post and go out for a goal kick.
But after all the possession the home side was having and the warning signs they gave Stoke eventually they got the goal. It all came from a throw in on the Stoke left, As Zabeleta & Milner exchanged passes between them, Then a lovely little dink over the 2 Stoke players from David Silva had Milner getting on it, He crossed it low across the area with Begovic saving it with his foot. But it came out straight to Zabaleta Who then slot it home for a 1-0 scoreline in the 42th min to give the Champions a deserved lead going in at half time.
Half Time: CITY 1-0 STOKE
Second half restarted,and was much like the first half. As the home side grew in confidence from the goal they got just before half time and City knew Stoke were now for the taking. Huth let Aguero know that he hadn`t giving up just yet, as he put a crunching tackle in on the striker and picking up a Yellow card for his actions.
Dzeko nearly made it 2 for City as another ball that was cleared upfield fell to the
Bosnian and strike from outside the area dipped just over the bar for would have been a great goal as Begovic was miles out of his goal.
Stoke then made a subsitution bringing Kenwyne Jones off for Matthew Etherington as he scrapped the 3 forward idea, As Puils the Stoke Manager tried to change his tactics about.
The Blues then scored their 2nd goal, As a quick direct free from Yaya Toure found Sergio Aguero and his shot was spilled right at the feet of Edin Dzeko who scored with a tap in after 55mins. Dzeko was booked straight after for celebration, As the tall striker took off his shirt to reveal a message on a shirt underneath that read "HAPPY NEW YEAR".
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| pic: bbc sports |
Stoke were having a purple patch around this time and a corner that was whipped in by ex City Academy player Glenn Whelan, Came to the feet quickly of striker Jonathan Walters but shot went over from only a few yards out.
City then was awarded a Penalty as David Silva was upended by Steven Nzonzi, After the Stoke player clipped his back leg when running on. But on further review later, it did look just..just outside the Penalty area the challenge. But Referee Oliver pointed to the spot to which their wasn`t many complaints or arguments by Stoke players really.
But it give a scare for City fans as Silva seemed to land awkwardly on his shoulder in the fall and was down for minute and was treaded on it. Aguero went to take the spot kick, put it down on the spot. And the Argentine stepped up to convert the kick as Begovic got both hands to it, However the power just took it in and extended the lead to 3-0. But it certainly wasn`t one of his best penalties he`s ever took, That`s for sure.
A few minutes later, The Argentine striker stayed down in the Stoke penalty area after a City attack and was slow to walk off as he had picked up an Hamstring injury and so his fellow Countryman came on to replace him in Carlos Tevez , Who himself has a very good record against Stoke City. City made their 2nd change as David Silva received a standing ovation from the Home faithful as he made well for Scott Sinclair.
Stoke had there ONLY meaningful shot in the whole game coming in the 85th min, As that player Glenn Whelan was at it again, having a strike from outside the area & City keeper Joe Hart pushed it onto the post for a corner as it was the only thing he had to do all game. City made there final substitution as Edin Dzeko came off for young Abdul Razzak to play out the remaining minutes and start 2013 as they mean to go on as they try to claw back the 7pts gap.
FINAL SCORE: MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 STOKE CITY
MAN OF THE MATCH: 3# Pablo Zabaleta
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