 MIDDLESBROUGH 8 CITY 1 11th May 2008 Attendance 27,613 Scorers – City Elano(88) Middlesbrough Downing(16 pen & 58), Alves(37, 60 & 90), Johnson(70), Rochemback(80), Aliadiere(85) ref Phil Dowd |
City Isaksson, Jihai, Dunne, Corluka, Ball, Garrido, Fernandes, Ireland, Petrov, Vassell, Benjani – subs Castillo(13), Hamann(62), Elano(71) Hart(Unused), Caicedo(Unused)
Middlesbrough Schwarzer, Young, Arca, Riggott, Pogatetz, Wheater, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Alves, Tuncay – used subs Aliadiere(62), McMahon(75), Johnson(62)
There’s not much that can be added to the various postmortems that followed this game. It was, from a Manchester City point-of-view, a disaster. Ending in such a disappointing manner meant any progress made this season would be largely forgotten, which is a pity, especially coming on the back of defeats against Liverpool and Fulham. Yet for the first 16 minutes, City were comfortable and bright, but when Richard Dunne accidentally clipped Tuncay’s legs as he closed in on goal, the referee pointed to the spot and showed the Blues’ skipper a straight red card. Stewart Downing dispatched the penalty and it was always going to be an uphill struggle from there on. Alfonso Alves made it 2-0 before the break and for the remainder of the match, City just fell apart. Downing’s super volley made it 3-0 on 58 minutes and Alves made it four two minutes later. There was a certain amount of luck with one or two Boro goals, such as Adam Johnson’s deflected effort on 70 minutes, but Rochemback’s wonderful free-kick on 80 minutes was not one of them. Aliadiere made it seven five minutes before the end as the City defence imploded, but Elano pulled a goal back with a stunning solo effort on 87. There was still time for one last goal for the hosts, with Alves completing the rout on go minutes. A day to forget and a match the Blues will need to avenge next season – and in some style, too.ADAPTED FROM THE CITY MAGAZINE JUNE 2008
