- FT 90 +6
- HT 0-0
- Man City unbeaten in 11 league games
- City start without goalkeeper Joe Hart
- Sunderland one win in 10 league games
- Black Cats three points above drop zone
Substitute Frank Lampard headed a dramatic winner as Manchester City
defeated Sunderland to go level on points with leaders Chelsea.
A sublime 22-yard strike by Yaya Toure and Stevan Jovetic's clever close-range finish put City firmly in control.
But the hosts conceded a two-goal lead for the second game in a row as Jack Rodwell's header and Adam Johnson's penalty levelled the scores.
Lampard secured victory with a well-placed header from Gael Clichy's cross.
The former Chelsea player, available after City extended his contract until the end of the season from New York City, could have had a hat-trick in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch as City finished strongly.
City's seventh league home win saw them join leaders Chelsea on 46 points ahead of the latter's late game at Tottenham.
Manuel Pellegrini's side dominated the early exchanges but ended the first half goalless and frustrated after some disciplined Sunderland defending.
The Black Cats were content to sit back and soak up City pressure, yet for all their dominance, the hosts were unable to make it count.
Costel Pantilimon was forced into just two serious saves before the interval on his return to the club he left last summer after only seven Premier League starts in three years.
The Romanian, who had more touches than any other Sunderland player in the opening 45 minutes, beat away David Silva's 20-yard strike in the 31st minute before keeping out Toure's long-range attempt seven minutes later.
At the other end, Willy Caballero, starting in place of the rested Joe Hart, enjoyed a quiet return to action until producing a fine save to keep out Sebastian Larsson's curling 41st minute free-kick.
It required something spectacular for City to make the breakthrough, Toure's sublime strike from just outside the area giving Pantilimon no chance.
Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! |
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Manchester City had 12 shots on target against Sunderland. No team has managed more in a Premier League game this season. |
But just as they did at the weekend against Burnley, the hosts undid their hard work by conceding two quick goals - both scored by former City players.
Rodwell reduced the deficit with a firm header from a 68th-minute corner before Johnson levelled from the spot three minutes later after Billy Jones was clipped by Pabo Zabaleta.
Yet Sunderland were level for just two minutes, Lampard heading home Clichy's cross to put City ahead again.
Lampard was twice denied by Pantilimon in the closing minutes while the Sunderland keeper also kept out Jesus Navas and Ferandinho in an exciting finish.
Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (6)
Manchester City
- 13 Caballero
- 05 Zabaleta Booked
- 26 Demichelis
- 20 Mangala
- 22 Clichy
- 42 Y Touré
- 25 Fernandinho
- 15 Jesús Navas
- 21 Silva (Milner - 90' )
- 08 Nasri Booked (Kolarov - 85' )
- 35 Jovetic (Lampard - 70' )
Substitutes
- 01 Hart
- 03 Sagna
- 07 Milner
- 11 Kolarov
- 12 Sinclair
- 18 Lampard
- 38 Boyata
Sunderland
- 01 Pantilimon
- 27 Vergini (Coates - 78' )
- 16 O'Shea
- 05 Brown Booked
- 02 Jones Booked
- 08 Rodwell
- 30 Buckley (Álvarez - 65' )
- 07 Larsson Booked
- 14 Jordi Gómez (Giaccherini - 58' )
- 11 Johnson
- 10 Wickham
Substitutes
- 09 Fletcher
- 12 Cabral
- 17 Altidore
- 20 Álvarez
- 22 Coates
- 23 Giaccherini
- 25 Mannone
Ref: Roger East
Att: 45,367
Live Text Commentary
Full time
90:00 +1:48 Fernandinho (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +1:48 Foul by Ricardo Álvarez (Sunderland).
90:00 +1:16 Attempt blocked. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fernandinho.
90:00 +0:33 Attempt missed. James Milner (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov.
90:00 James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 Foul by Sebastián Coates (Sunderland).
89:31 Attempt missed. James Milner (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jesús Navas.
89:15 Substitution
88:24 Foul by Billy Jones (Sunderland).
87:31 Booking
87:25 Foul by Wes Brown (Sunderland).
85:38 Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Jack Rodwell.
85:35 Attempt blocked. Frank Lampard (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jesús Navas.
85:28 Attempt saved. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Silva with a through ball.
84:52 Substitution
Full Time Match ends, Manchester City 3, Sunderland 2.
90:00 +5:20 Full time
Full Time Second Half ends, Manchester City 3, Sunderland 2.
90:00 +2:09
Attempt saved. James Milner (Manchester City) right footed shot from
the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by
Yaya Touré. 90:00 +1:48 Fernandinho (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +1:48 Foul by Ricardo Álvarez (Sunderland).
90:00 +1:16 Attempt blocked. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fernandinho.
90:00 +0:33 Attempt missed. James Milner (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov.
90:00 James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 Foul by Sebastián Coates (Sunderland).
89:31 Attempt missed. James Milner (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jesús Navas.
89:15 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, Manchester City. James Milner replaces David Silva.
88:24 Jesús Navas (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 88:24 Foul by Billy Jones (Sunderland).
87:31 Booking
Booking Wes Brown (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
87:25 David Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 87:25 Foul by Wes Brown (Sunderland).
85:38 Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Jack Rodwell.
85:35 Attempt blocked. Frank Lampard (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jesús Navas.
85:28 Attempt saved. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Silva with a through ball.
84:52 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, Manchester City. Aleksandar Kolarov replaces Samir Nasri.
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