City Sharper than Sunderland

Sunderland AFC Youth 0 - 2 Manchester City FC Youth

The two leaders of their respective Academy groups met at the Stadium of Light last night for the all important semi-final FA Youth cup clash to earn the right to play in the televised Final against Aston Villa or Chelsea. It was City that came out of the first leg tie with one foot in the final door with a brace of goals from left back Ryan McGivern who has always been a threat at set pieces throughout his younger years.

My notepad is completely bare up until the thirty seventh minute when Greg Hartley was the first goalkeeper forced to save a shot on target. Other than that I had just written down the two Sunderland players that had been booked prior to that.

The reason for this lack of scribbles is that both sides were very much playing a cat and mouse game as neither side showed any real penetration and created a clear cut chance.

A minute after Hartley's save; City had taken the lead when great work by Vladimir Weiss down the right flank had won City a corner. The Corner was not cleared and Scott Kay hit a high ball back into the box that Captain Ben Mee headed upwards and Daniel Sturridge was able to get a shot in, but it cannoned off the defender and fell nicely for Ryan to hit goalwards and was deflected away from Dan Staples in the Sunderland goal as the ball went into the corner of the net.

Two minutes later Sunderland could have been down to ten men as yet again Jordon Cook left his foot in, with a late takle; but the referee used his common sense and just had a strong word with him. As it was Cook never appeared for the second half; probably for the team's and his own good.

Sunderland could have drawn level in first half stoppage time when Sunderland made good progress down the right that culminated in a good save from Hartley from a Michael Kay shot.

Sunderland who were kept waiting by City and the officials at half time; started the brighter of the two sides as they endeavoured to get back into the game and they even struck the post from a Nathan Luscombe shot from a move down the right.

City then settled and started to play and it was a strong run from the centre of midfield by Donal McDermott who sent a defence splitting pass for David Ball who ran on and forced a good save from Staples.

Two minutes later Sunderland made good progress down the left when Kieran Trippier was left in two minds on who to mark and in the end did not mark either and the ball came back into the box but Martyn Waghorn put his shot over the bar.

Three minutes later and City had doubled their lead when McDermott's left foot in-swinging corner was met by the head of McGivern and into the bottom corner of the net.

Just over half way through the second half and McGivern was helping out in the other goal when Waghorn's shot is saved and parried by Hartley and substitute Ryan Noble's shot is saved on the line by McGivern.

Within a minute City could have been three goals to the good when Sturridge out on the right in the middle of the park sent a first time looping pass over the defence for Ball to chase onto; but again Staples saved well.

With fifteen minutes remaining David Ball found himself in space in the area and his shot looked to have taked a deflection but fortunately for Sunderland defender Joe Cornforth was in the right position to clear the chance off the line.

The last pattern of play was like a constant Sunderland attack; but although they got themselves into great positions to reduce the deficit the likes of Captain Jack Colback and centre half Niall McArdle lacked that bit of composure as they headed over and wide of City's goal.

City certainly rode their luck in this match and will have to be more ruthless in the final third if they are to prevent a Sunderland fightback. Indeed we want to see Sturridge reproduce the sort of form that he showed against Plymouth and the latter stages against Bristol City as I am sure he was disappointed with his display at the Stadium of Light. As this is only half time in the tie and Sunderland came from two nil down against Liverpool in the fifth round to take a lead and eventually win five three in extra time.


Sunderland: Staples(GK), Kay, Liddle, Hourihane(Galer 84), Cornforth, McArdle, Henderson, Colback(Capt.), Waghorn, Cook(R Noble 46), Luscombe.

Subs: Hunter(GK), Brown, L Noble.


City: Hartley(GK), Trippier, McGivern, Boyata, Mee(Capt.), Kay, Weiss, Tutte, D Ball, Sturridge, McDermott(Tsiaklis 70).

Subs: Johansen(GK), Nimley-Tchuimeni, Ibrahim, Mak.


Att: 4191.(Although hundreds more were let in through the gates ten minutes into the game)