Sunderland Push City Hard

Manchester City Youth 0 - 1 Sunderland AFC
(Agg: 2-1)

Manchester City made heavy weather of making it through to the final for the second time in three seasons. A good first half goal from Sunderland's Jordan Henderson made it a nervy night for City as they rode their luck to hold on as they gave away possession at ease for too much of the game.

A game that City could only lose by one goal did just about enough to secure their final berth as the defence just about held on for nearly seventy five minutes.

The referee did not help proceedings as there were many instances when City players were left on the floor after a Sunderland player had fouled them. This was a similar situation that led to the build up of Sunderland's goal when Andrew Tutte was caught from behind and the ball ran to the Sunderland player, Nathan Luscombe and he found Henderson on the edge of the area where he let a pin point top corner shot that was superbly placed and gave Gregory Hartley no chance to save as the ball went into the City goal.

City gave themselves a chance at hitting straight back when Vladimir Weiss wriggled his way into the area before crossing low across the box that unfortunately no City player were able to connect with.

Weiss then set Daniel Sturridge free on the right with a quickly taken throw in and found himself in space with David Ball completely unmarked rushing in but symptomatic of Sturridge's evening, he was overly selfish and given his poor form from the last leg and from the opening minutes of this leg; his wayward shot only antagonised the crowd that they knew he should have done much better.

Sturridge turned provider in the seventh minute of the second half when he played a ball through for Ball to chase, but it was slightly too strong and the ever alert Dan Staples in the Sunderland goal was quickly off his line to smother the chance.

Just on the hour mark Henderson nearly scores a brace as he picked up a lose pass on the right before sending Ryan McGivern the wrong way before unleasing a fine left foot shot that just drifted wide of the far post.

City nearly made things safe with eight minutes to go when Sturridge made a strong run on the left but was left with a tight angle and Staples was able to stand up but his save was only parried out into the path of Scott Kay and he steadied himself before firing a shot towards the roof of the net but Staples again saved well.

City will have to show far more cohesion in the final against Aston Villa or Chelsea if they are to lift the coveted trophy for the first time in twenty two years that City's academy so dearly crave as their previous efforts have always just fallen short; but can boast the best record at producing first team players in the league.


City: Hartley(GK), Trippier, McGivern, Boyata, Mee(Capt.), Kay, Weiss, Tutte, D Ball, Sturridge, McDermott.

Subs: (Not Used) Johansen(GK), Nimley-Tchuimeni, Ramsey, Tsiaklis, Mak.


Sunderland: Staples(GK), Kay(R Noble72), Liddle, L Noble(Galer 86), Cornforth, McArdle, Henderson, Colback, Hourihane, Waghorn(Capt.), Luscombe(Hunter 78).

Subs: Brown, Cook, Scott.


Att: 3228.