NBC on Yahoo SportsManchester City 3-2 Sunderland: Lampard, of course, scores the winner
Manchester City beat Sunderland 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, as Frank Lampard popped up with the winner after an incredible spell of goals in the second half.
All five goals were scored in a 14 minute spell, as Yaya Toure scored a stunner to put City ahead and then Stevan Jovetic made it 2-0. However, Sunderland came roaring back as former City players Jack Rodwell and Adam Johsnon scored but Lampard headed home to make it 3-2.
City remain in second, while Sunderland are just three points off the relegation zone after a second defeat in their last three games.
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City had all of the early play and came closest to scoring when Toure’s shot was blocked and David Silva sent his follow up effort just wide of the post.
Sunderland improved as the half wore on and just before the break Willy Caballero made a terrific save from Sebastian Larsson’s free kick. The Argentine ‘keeper came in for Joe Hart and kept the score level at the break following a lackluster opening 45 minutes at the Etihad.
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In the second half City continued to have all of the play and they were finally rewarded for their efforts when Toure smashed home a beauty from 25-yards out to make it 1-0. After patient build up play on the edge of the box, Toure let fly to ease the tension inside the stadium.
Jovetic then made it 2-0 to City with a cheeky finish but no sooner had that happened than Sunderland got a goal back from Rodwell against his old club. 2-1. Moments later it was 2-2 after Billy Jones was taken down by Pablo Zabaleta in the box. A stonewall penalty as another former Man City player Johnson made it 2-2 from the spot. Remarkable comeback as the game burst into live with five goals in 14 minutes, because Lampard arrived off the bench in the 70th minute to head home and make it 3-2 with his seventh goal of the season.
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That goal turned out to be the winner, as a day which started with Lampard controversially extending his time at Man City ended with the 36-year-old proving exactly why Manuel Pellegrini wants to keep him around.
LINEUPS
Man City: Caballero, Zabaleta, Mangala, Demichelis, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, Nasri (Kolarov, 85′), Silva (Milner, 90′), Navas, Jovetic (Lampard, 70′)
Goals: Toure (57′), Jovetic (66′), Lampard (73)
Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini (Coates, 78′), Jones, Brown, O’Shea, Rodwell, Larsson, Gomez (Giaccherini, 58′), Johnson, Buckley (Alvarez, 65′), Wickham.
Goals: Rodwell (68′), Johnson (71′)
