And here it is. The potted recent history of Manchester City encapsulated in 90 minutes of football, at Wembley.
Start off with a metaphor for the years of embarrassment. A goal down to Sunderland in a major final, less than a year after losing in similar circumstances to Wigan Athletic. Oh the shame.
Here we go again. Laughing stock club. Spent all that money, won nothing. And then, in what seems like an instant, see the narrative change beyond recognition.
Two goals in as many minutes, equating to the elation felt as one of the wealthiest men in the world buys the club, offering hope, then triumph, and making dreams come true. The third goal? Well, that represents the future. Emphatic victory, supremacy, the growing divide.
Scroll down for Gus Poyet and Vincent Kompany's post-match reactions
Champions: Manchester City won the Capital One Cup after beating Sunderland 3-1 in the final
Silverware: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany lifts the Capital One Cup trophy
One down: City completed the first part of a potential domestic treble this season
View from the dressing room: Kompany tweeted this picture of City the celebrations
Leader: Captain Kompany with the trophy
Prize: Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini
MATCH FACTS
Man City: Pantilimon 6, Zabaleta 6.5, Kompany 6.5, Demichelis 6, Kolarov 7, Nasri 7.5, Toure 6.5, Fernandinho 6.5, Silva 6.5 (Javi Garcia 77), Dzeko 6.5 (Negredo 88), Aguero 5 (Navas 58, 6.5).
Subs not used: Hart, Lescott, Milner, Clichy.
Goals: Toure 55, Nasri 56, Navas 90.
Booked: Negredo.
Sunderland: Mannone 6.5, Bardsley 6, Brown 7, O'Shea 7, Alonso 6.5, Ki 7, Larsson 7 (Fletcher 60, 5), Cattermole 7 (Giaccherini 77), Colback 6.5, Johnson 6 (Gardner 60, 6), Borini 7.
Subs not used: Celustka, Vergini, Scocco, Ustari.
Goals: Borini 10.
Booked: Alonso.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire) 7.
Attendance: 84, 697.
Man of the match: Nasri.
Ratings by COLIN YOUNG at Wembley
Subs not used: Hart, Lescott, Milner, Clichy.
Goals: Toure 55, Nasri 56, Navas 90.
Booked: Negredo.
Sunderland: Mannone 6.5, Bardsley 6, Brown 7, O'Shea 7, Alonso 6.5, Ki 7, Larsson 7 (Fletcher 60, 5), Cattermole 7 (Giaccherini 77), Colback 6.5, Johnson 6 (Gardner 60, 6), Borini 7.
Subs not used: Celustka, Vergini, Scocco, Ustari.
Goals: Borini 10.
Booked: Alonso.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire) 7.
Attendance: 84, 697.
Man of the match: Nasri.
Ratings by COLIN YOUNG at Wembley
This could merely be stage one of a unique treble. It is also the first trophy of significance in Europe for Manuel Pellegrini, the manager. Mighty oaks from little acorns and all that.
It does help, when visiting Wembley as a fan, to have an I-was-there moment to retell through generations and Yaya Toure kindly provided one, with the goal that levelled the scores after 55 minutes. It was, he said, his finest, and there is fair competition in that category.
Suffice to say Toure's equaliser was one of those long-range shots that curled so precisely and exquisitely into the top corner that, at first, some thought it was an over-hit cross that got lucky. Surely no player could be that audacious, or cool under pressure. Well, yes, some players could. Great players. Great players see every minute as an opportunity to alter destiny. Great players do not take a poor first-half out with them again after half-time. Toure is a great player.
After 45 minutes he was the problem; ten minutes later he was the solution.
He really did have a tough time of it early on. Gus Poyet, the Sunderland manager, had identified Toure's axis with Fernandinho as the key to City's strength and set about closing them down as swiftly as possible. For half of the game, it worked. Toure in particular, appeared ill at ease with the physical confrontation Sunderland brought and the underdogs were well worth their single goal lead.
Dream start: Italian forward Fabio Borini gave Sunderland the lead in the 10th minute
Finish: After shrugging off the challenge from Vincent Kompany, Borini fired into the far corner
On target: Borini celebrates his early goal
Fist: Sunderland boss Gus Poyet shows his delight
Mock: Sunderland fans perform Manchester City's 'Poznan' celebration after the opening goal
Left with only understudy goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon to beat the young man kept his nerve, and finished smartly at an angle.
It was early, but Sunderland were rightly buoyed by this. They created good chances from there; a Wes Brown header from Seb Larsson's corner, a by-line cut-back from Johnson that was cut out by Kompany with Sunderland men queuing up; and a Larsson touch that set Borini up, dashing clear of City's defence and only caught by Kompany close to the six-yard box, on the verge of forging a two-goal lead.
So it is to the immense credit of City, Pellegrini, and Toure specifically, that they should emerge so energised for the second-half.
Yes, they were still open at the back on occasions, and it helped that Sunderland dropped deeper almost from the restart, but they were a very different team once the coach had the opportunity to review and regroup.
Wheeling away: Borini runs off to celebrate his Wembley strike early on for the underdogs
Roar: Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone shows his delight as he celebrates the opening goal
Stand off: Phil Bardsley and Martin Demichelis
City dominated second-half possession and a long range shot from Ki Sung-Yueng aside, had scored twice before Sunderland were given the chance to respond.
The equalising goal was coming. Pablo Zabaleta hit a chip - which probably was intended as a cross - that caught Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone a little off his line and maybe it gave Toure ideas. Soon after, Samir Nasri found David Silva whose low shot was saved. And then it was Yaya time.
He exchanged passes with Zabaleta in the build-up. Not greatly meaningful ones. The type of passes players make when all they see ahead are massed banks of red and white shirts, and no way through.
Zabaleta to Toure, trying to change the angle, Toure to Zabaleta, looking for an opening wide, Zabaleta to Toure, to see if he had any better ideas and then: bang. He was 30 yards out, with plenty of traffic ahead, so took a short cut. The ball lifted over all obstacles, including Mannone, and curled right to left into the very top corner. It was, quite simply, one of the finest goals scored at this stadium, old or new.
Sunderland were still digesting it when Samir Nasri claimed the second.
Back on terms: Yaya Toure's stunning strike levelled the scores for Manchester City early in the second half
On it's way: The Ivorian midfield powerhouse curled a long-range effort right into the top corner
Out of reach: Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone watches Toure's strike sail into the far corner
Nestled: Sergio Aguero celebrates after realising that Toure's strike hit the back of the net
Jumping for joy: Toure is mobbed by captain Kompany after his equalising goal
It was another example of the match-defining excellence that Sheikh Mansour's money has bought.
Aleksander Kolarov broke down the left and hit a cross, which was deflected just off line by a Sunderland boot. Unfortunately, it was directed only into the path of the late-arriving Nasri whose finish, first time, brooked no argument.
Even with 34 minutes remaining Sunderland looked beaten. They had chances after that but never the same command they enjoyed in the first-half. Pantilimon saved a free-kick from Marcos Alonso on the right, while substitute Steven Fletcher should have done better from a chance set up by Jack Colback.
When the striker mis-controlled a golden opportunity at the far post late in the game, Sunderland's race was run. By now they were throwing everything at City, with predictable results.
Aleksander Kolarov broke down the left and hit a cross, which was deflected just off line by a Sunderland boot. Unfortunately, it was directed only into the path of the late-arriving Nasri whose finish, first time, brooked no argument.
Even with 34 minutes remaining Sunderland looked beaten. They had chances after that but never the same command they enjoyed in the first-half. Pantilimon saved a free-kick from Marcos Alonso on the right, while substitute Steven Fletcher should have done better from a chance set up by Jack Colback.
When the striker mis-controlled a golden opportunity at the far post late in the game, Sunderland's race was run. By now they were throwing everything at City, with predictable results.
Deadly: Samir Nasri fired home Manchester City's second goal in quick succession
Delight: Nasri converted a deflected cross from the left from Aleksandar Kolarov
Scrum: Manchester City players celebrate after taking the lead at Wembley
Jubilation: Manchester City supporters celebrate in the background after Nasri's goal
The break that led to the third goal came directly from Sunderland pressure. The move broke down around City's area and Toure was quickest away, finding Jesus Navas on the right, scooting directly at Mannone with Sunderland's defences in disarray.
His finish allowed the party at the blue end to begin in earnest, and it continued long after the final whistle, heralded by the playing of Supersonic by Oasis. 'I'm feeling Supersonic, give me gin and tonic,' rang out around the stadium as Noel Gallagher looked on.
It must be nice to be Noel. When your team wins they play all your favourite songs. Although he will be hoping to be heartily sick of them by the time the season ends.
His finish allowed the party at the blue end to begin in earnest, and it continued long after the final whistle, heralded by the playing of Supersonic by Oasis. 'I'm feeling Supersonic, give me gin and tonic,' rang out around the stadium as Noel Gallagher looked on.
It must be nice to be Noel. When your team wins they play all your favourite songs. Although he will be hoping to be heartily sick of them by the time the season ends.
Wonderwall: Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher watches on as City clinch victory in the first final of the season
Job done: Jesus Navas scored Manchester City's third goal in the final minute of normal time
Slotted: Navas found the back of the net after a swift counter attack from Manchester City
Despairing: Sunderland goalkeeper Mannone tries but fails to keep out the Spaniard's shot
In the bag: City players celebrate Navas' goal and a hard-fought victory at Wembley
Arms aloft: City manager Pellegrini celebrates upon hearing the final whistle
Glum: Sunderland players react to Navas' third goal for Manchester City
Blue moon: Manchester City fans revel in their team's success at Wembley
Scene: Manchester City players celebrate their success in front of over 84,000 fans at Wembley
Lining up: Fernandinho, Alvaro Negredo, Navas, Javi Garcia and David Silva
Commiserations: Sunderland manager Poyet consoles Bardsley after the defeat
Head in hands: Sunderland manager Poyet
Gutted: Bardsley cannot hide his disappointment
Dejection: Sunderland players thank the fans for their support after their defeat
Despondent: A dejected John O'Shea collects his runners-up medal
No comments:
Post a Comment