Manchester City 2 Aston Villa 4:GOALS IN extra-time from Gabriel Agbonlahor and Charles N'Zogbia earned Aston Villa a shock win at the Etihad Stadium last night. The win was deserved. On the pitch, and in the technical area, Aston Villa refused to give an inch as Manchester City were taken to extra-time.
Manager Paul Lambert squared up to Roberto Mancini after the Italian waved an imaginary card at the referee, not for the first time, and his players twice came from behind against a disjointed City display.
Mario Balotelli scored and completed a game for City for the first time this season. He almost won the game with a late header only for Shay Given to make a fine stop against his former club. His present employers merited the chance to progress after Gareth Barry’s own goal and Gabriel Agbonlahor’s finish capped a positive Villa performance.
City new signing Matija Nastasic featured in a defence disrupted in the warm-up when Jack Rodwell pulled up injured and had to be replaced by Joleon Lescott.
Nastasic and Aleksandar Kolarov began to exploit space down the City left and loose control from the Villa right-back, Matthew Lowton, presented them with an opening. Tevez took over and picked out James Milner free on the opposite flank. The former Villa midfielder flicked a pass through the centre of the visitors’ penalty area and must have been surprised by the freedom afforded Balotelli. The City striker had time to control, turn and beat Given convincingly before a Villa defender came close.
Fortune surrounded Villa’s equaliser on the hour mark but it was no less than they deserved. A composed, one-touch move led to Karim El Ahmadi releasing Weimann down the right. His low cross was only parried by Costel Pantilimon and the loose ball struck the unwitting Barry and looped into his own net.
The lead lasted all of five minutes before Ron Vlaar conceded a free-kick 20 yards from the Villa goal.
The visiting captain was punished twice, first with a yellow card and then by a set-piece from Kolarov who whipped a left foot shot over the wall and beyond the grasp of Given.
Agbonlahor evaded two lame challenges as he ran at the heart of the City defence and with the goal opening up before him, comfortably beat the unconvincing Pantilimon to take the game into extra-time.
Pantilimon’s inability to either hold on to the ball or ensure it was not kept alive cost City dearly five minutes into extra time when he half-saved Agbonlahor’s shot and N’Zogbia rolled in the rebound.
Agbonlahor added the finishing touch to their victory when his deflected shot looped over the City goalkeeper.
MAN CITY: Pantilimon, Nastasic, Toure, Lescott (Dzeko 74), Milner, Barry, Kolarov, Razak (Helan 106),Tevez, Balotelli, Suarez (Sinclair 62). Subs Not Used: Wright, Zabaleta, Scapuzzi, Evans. Booked: Tevez, Razak, Toure, Kolarov.
ASTON VILLA: Given, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Bennett (Lichaj 86), Delph, El Ahmadi (Herd 72), N’Zogbia, Weimann (Albrighton 66), Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs Not Used: Guzan, Bent, Bannan, Baker.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
