TheSportsCampus

Wembley was taken over by a sea of blue this afternoon as Manchester City clinched the FA Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over Stoke City. Yaya Toure, the semi-final hero against arch rivals Manchester United, scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute as he struck a left footed strike from a rebound. City dominated the 1st half as they created numerous opportunities against a lackluster Stoke side. Stoke made a fist of it in the 2nd half, but City had too much quality for Tony Pulis' men.

Stoke City tried hard to salvage a late goal but City held on to ended their long 35 year trophy drought, on the same day that Manchester United sealed a record 19th Premier League title.

Roberto Mancini sent out his big guns in attack as Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez returned to the starting line-up. David Silva slotted into the hole behind the two strikers, with the trio of Yaya Toure, Nigel De Jong and Gareth Barry holding fort in the centre of the park. Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott continued in central defence while Aleksander Kolarov and Micah Richards were the starting full backs.

Tony Pulis was delighted to include Matthew Etherington and Robert Huth in the starting line up after they came through late fitness tests. Huth's inclusion in particular added great solidity to the backline, where he was partnered by Ryan Shawcross. A potent Stoke wing saw Jermaine Pennant and Etherington start in front of full backs, Andy Wilkinson and Marc Wilson. Glen Whelan and Rory Delap were entrusted with breaking up City's midfield while up front, it was the striking duo of Jon Walters and Kenwyne Jones.

It was an understandably measured start to the game, with the first shot on goal coming in the 5th minute courtesy of an error by Wilkinson as Tevez forced Thomas Sorenson into an early save. Stoke were defending very deep, thus allowing City to enjoy the lion's share of possession. Shawcross then had his heart in his mouth as he almost turned Kolarov's cross into his own net, but to Stoke's relief the ball went behind for a corner. City had a few pops at goal as De Jong and Toure tried their luck from distance.

Stoke City's best foray into City's half came as a result of good interplay between the front two of Jones and Walters, but Kompany threw his body in the way to deny Jones' strike. City responded by creating the best opportunity of the half so far as Sorenson produced a stupendous save to deny Balotelli's Thierry Henry-esque curling effort from the left. Stoke then had a legitimate shout for a penalty as Kompany handled the ball inside the box, but referee Martin Atkinson deemed it not worthy of a penalty.

At the other end, Balotelli was giving Stoke's defenders a hard time as he once again got in behind the back four, but Sorenson did well to keep the Italian at bay. The ball then fell to Silva, who amazingly missed the target from a few yards out. The half came to end with Stoke badly in need of some impetus.

It was a far more even start to the 2nd half as Stoke finally found their feet. Pennant wasted a good opportunity while Huth headed a cross wide of the post. City were looking dangerous on the counter as once again Silva spurned an opportunity to put the Blues in the lead after being put through by Tevez. Stoke's resurgence was brought crashing to a halt with sixteen minutes to go as Toure proved to be City's go-to man again. Silva and Balotelli opened up some space with a neat interchange and the Italian then had a strike blocked. But there was no stopping the onrushing Toure as he powered the ball into the back of the net from 10 yards.

Stoke threw John Carew and Danny Pugh in a desperate attempt to find a late goal, but it was City who looked more dangerous as Silva forced Sorenson into a fine save with a low strike. City suffered a few nervous moments in the final minutes as Stoke earned a few corners, but City defended for their lives to maintain their lead.

The celebrations at full time told everything that needed to be said about the magnitude of this victory for Man City. The Blue half of Manchester have long lived in the shadow of their illustrious opponents in Red, but the FA Cup could prove to be the first among many trophies they accrue in the coming years. On the day, City dominated possession, created chances and defended with discipline to totally deserve the victory. Stoke never got going until the 2nd half and even then they created very few chances to really trouble City. The day belongs to Manchester though, as both Mancunian clubs rejoice over monumental trophies tonight.

Teams:

Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry (Johnson 73'), Yaya Toure, Silva (Vieira 92'), Balotelli, Tevez (Zabaleta 88').

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan (Pugh 84'), Delap (Carew 80'), Etherington (Whitehead 62'), Walters, Jones

Final Score: Man City 1–0 Stoke City (Yaya Toure 74')

File Photograph Copyright: Alfonso Jimenez

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