We’re at number six on our countdown ahead of Sunday’s Capital One Cup final…
City 1 Stoke City 0, Saturday 14 May 2011
City ended their 35-year wait for a major trophy by claiming the FA Cup after a 1-0 win over Stoke at Wembley.
Yaya Toure’s struck in the 75th minute to ensure the prestigious trophy would be heading back to Manchester and end a barren run, which stretched back to the 1976 League Cup victory against Newcastle United.
City dominated throughout and were unlucky not to take the lead in the first half with Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen denying them on multiple occasions.
The Dane produced saves to deny Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli in the first 45, but was powerless to prevent Toure hammering home the winner.
The ball fell to the Ivorian ten yards from goal and he almost broke the net with a ferocious effort that sparked jubilant celebrations in the stands.
Match highlights
Starting XIs
City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, de Jong, Barry (Johnson 73), Toure, David Silva (Vieira 90), Balotelli, Tevez (c) (Zabaleta 88)
Unused subs: Given, Boyata, Milner, Dzeko.
Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross (c), Huth, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan (Pugh 85), Delap (Carew 81), Etherington (Whitehead 62), Jones, Walters.
Unused subs: Nash, Collins, Faye, Diao.
Key Moments
10’ – Nearly an own goal from Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross, who diverts Aleks Kolarov’s low cross into the side netting.
11’ – Close! Toure takes aim from long range and sees his shot drift narrowly wide of the post.
24’ – Great save from Sorensen to tip Balotelli’s curling effort around the post.
35’ – Chance! Close to an opener for City as David Silva fires into the ground and over the crossbar.
62’ – Wonderful save from Joe Hart, who spreads himself well to deny Kenwyne Jones.
75’ – GOAL! City take the lead as Toure smashes an effort into the back of the net in front of the travelling Blues.
90’ – Referee Martin Atkinson brings an end to the game and City’s 35-year wait for a trophy comes to an end!
Man of the Match
Mario Balotelli
Reaction
“Forty-two years of hurt were finally swept away in ninety glorious minutes of North London sunshine. The FA Cup 2011 will reside alongside Champions League qualification on the Blues roll of honour.
Finally a squad of players has stepped forward to write their names into the history books and put new heroes on the lips of the modern generation. Now the names of Tevez, Yaya and Richards will ring out loud and proud alongside those of Bell, Lee and Summerbee.” Chris Bailey, Manchester City
“It was the moment Manchester City had craved for longer than they will care to remember, the day they could release all that pent-up frustration. The long, sometimes brutal wait for a trophy is finally over.
“Roberto Mancini has come through with his promise to change the club’s history and from here they can surely embrace a future in which they seem intent on grasping the keys to the football universe.” Daniel Taylor, Guardian
