Manchester City suffered a shocking 1-2 defeat at home to lowly rated Wigan Athletics in the quater final stage of the FA cup ending their hopes of a possible quadruple.
Wigan scored two goals in each half, first from Jordi Gomez the penalty spot after Demichelis brought down Fortune in the box and the second from James Perch when he lashed onto a deep cross from the side of City defence catching Clinchy napping
Manuel Pellegrini's side got one back through Samir Nasri but was not enough to keep them in the competition as Wigan defended very well despite City's immerse pressure.
Pellegrini rested a couple of his first choice players, with Richards and Lescot coming in for Zabaleta and Captain, Kompany respectively. Fernandinho was also replaced Javi Garcia while Jesus Navas comes in for David Silva as Pantilimon takes his regard place in the goal.
Wigan realising the attacking prowelling of their host sat back and waited for an opportunity to go on counter attack.
Their patience paid off in the 25th minute when Martin Demichelis allowed Marc-Antoine Fortune to dribble into the box and in his attempt to push the ball out of play caught Fortune's leg bringing him down in the area. Jordi Gomez stepped up and sent Costel Pantilimon the wrong way to put the lactics ahead.
Despite falling behind, City still look lively having more of the pocession as they string together passes in their build-up but it was constantly frustrated by the resolute defence of Wigan.
City's game plan did not change at the start of the second period as they pecked their opponent behind restricting them in their half mostly in their 18 yard area as they are forced to defend.
However it was wigan who scored again. James McArthur found space on the left wing and swung in a deep cross into the back post onto which Perch slide onto ahead of Gael Clichy who was hesitating to clear.
The Second goal prompted pellegrini to make immediate triple change has he looks for a way back into the game. James Milner, David Silva and Edin Dzeko all came in for Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure and Alvaro Negredo respectively.
The change almost paid immediately dividends as Dzeko's header struck the inside of the post from Clichy's cross then Aguero forced Carson into his first real save of the game with a scuffed shot after 65 minutes.
City finally bridged the Wigan defence when Samir Nasri's left footed half volley outside the area from a corner kick beat Scot Carson and fissled into the bottom corner.
Carson denied Aguero twice and Boyce made a spetacular clearance, sticking his foot to a goal bound Dzeko's effort just on his goal line.
Moments later, Micah Richards flashed a shot wide and Dzeko saw another header drift agonisingly wide.
Five minutes of added time gave City more hope but it was Wigan who came closest to another goal when Pantilimon denied Fortune, and a famous victory was theirs.
0 comments:
Post a Comment