Pre Match news
Joe Hart keeps his place after the midweek win over Norwich for only his second Premier League start for City. Emile Mpenza continues upfront with Rolando Bianchi ruled out through injury.
The Match
It was a noisy start in the stands and a lively one on the pitch with both teams threatening within the first six minutes.
Mpenza forced an error from the returning Shay Given, unfortunately nothing came from that. At the other end, Newcastle forced early corner, before Viduka’s eighth minute effort made Hart push it around for a second corner.
Somehow 10 minutes in, Butt avoided a yellow card after a blatant foul from behind on Mpenza, the resulting free-kick came to nothing.
Elano had the crowd up a minute later with a lovely volley which Given had to claw behind for a corner. A great start to the usually half-paced 12.45 game.
Newcastle had a half-hearted penalty appeal on 21 minutes as Micah Richards slid in on James Milner, referee Foy unimpressed, gave nothing.
Stephen Ireland almost opened the scoring 25 minutes in with a cross-shot that hit the angle of post and bar, there was no one expecting it or on hand to make anything of the half-chance.
Out of the blue on 29 minutes Newcastle took the lead and became the first away team to score at CoMS this season in the process. Geremi played a long ball over the top to Obafemi Martins who quickly got the ball under control and lifted it over the on-rushing Joe Hart from the edge of the box.
City had been the better side overall, but it could have been 2-0 two minutes later as Hart’s deft touch left him having to clear off his own line - he did look cool throughout - he clearly knew what he was doing.
The Blues heads didn’t drop and on 35 minutes the impressive Elano’s trickery fed Petrov, who’s deflected shot was cleared just beyond Mpenza and put out for a corner.
The reward came on 37 minutes as Martin Petrov rounded off a good move involving Corluka, Elano and Ireland. Elano’s fine ball spun away down the right for Ireland, who broke clear and slid the ball across for the Bulgarian to make it 1-1.
It could have quickly been 2-1 City as the brilliant Elano played in Ireland again with a glorious pass, but it was his international colleague Given, who kept the scores level as Ireland’s shot hit the chest of the keeper. The crowd were expecting a second before the break.
Sadly that didn’t come and the Blues had to settle for being level.
HALF TIME: City 1-1 Newcastle
Fans will have been wondering at the start of the second half if City could keep the same level of pressure on their visitors as they did for most of the first...they didn’t have to wait long to find out.
On 47 minutes Petrov raced clear of Taylor leaving him well in his wake before chipping a great ball in for Emile Mpenza to head his second goal in as many games as he sent Given the wrong way.
With the sun shining and Elano running the game, City held the upper hand and for the second week running had come from behind in a game, showing a ‘steely determination’ of previous times.
A knock to Vedran Corluka brought about the first change of the game just short of the hour mark. Nedum Onuoha the ready-made replacement.
Despite being in front, City still looked for goals, but were playing like a team with something to lose. But as Newcastle’s pressure grew, Dunne and Richards led the charge out from a Toon corner and the young England defender ran half the length of the pitch, with Dunne for company!
Sadly the pairing had to beat a hasty retreat to their defensive duties as a fine tackle stopped Richards in his tracks.
With 11 minutes left the now familiar sight of a rampaging Richards steaming forward was fed by Stephen Ireland, but after a 70-yard run Richards produced a tame left-footed shot, when maybe he could have given it back to Ireland.
On 82 minutes, Martin Petrov raced clear down the left to set up another chance, as Sven’s men looked most likely to make it 3-1.
The Blues were toying with Newcastle now, the highlight being Petrov’s mickey-taking of Smith as the Blues passed the ball for fun. Minutes later, Elano, Mpenza and Ireland were all at it but the best was still yet to come.
Three minutes from time Elano opened the top drawer and put the ball in the top corner of Newcastle’s goal with an amazing free-kick from about 25-yard which seared beyond Given and capped surely one of the greatest performances by any one player on the City of Manchester Stadium’s pitch.
The Brazilian was withdrawn soon after to absolute raptures from the CIty fans after a fantastic performance.
City ran down the clock with neat passes all over the pitch and the fans began to head home happy.
FULL TIME: City 3-1 Newcastle
mcfc.co.uk’s Man of the Match: Elano - need you ask - absolutely ran the game and capped it off with a brilliant goal.
