Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 1 Manchester City 0: Darren Bent dents City hopes with stoppage time penalty
Sunderland striker Darren Bent punished Manchester City for their profligacy at the Stadium of Light by smashing home a 94th-minute penalty this afternoon. [LNB]The game had been largely forgettable up until the point when Micah Richards brought down Bent inside the area.[LNB]His strike condemned Manchester City to their first defeat of the season as a glaring miss left Carlos Tevez red-faced.[LNB] Last-ditch: Sunderland's Darren Bent grabs a dramatic winner deep into stoppage-time at the Stadium of Light[LNB] [LNB]The Argentinian fired high over anopen goal after being played in by Yaya Toure, and the visitors weremade to pay as the points slipped away.[LNB]Roberto Mancini's side dominatedbefore the break, but were unable to take advantage, and the home sidemade the most of their opportunity despite losing striker FraizerCampbell with what looked like a serious injury.[LNB]That brought greater urgency toSteve Bruce's pursuit of Ghana international striker Asamoah Gyan aheadof the transfer deadline, although he was able to comfort himself witha spirited display by his team.[LNB]However, it took a fine late save bykeeper Simon Mignolet from substitute Emmanuel Adebayor to give Benthis big chance in front of a crowd of 38,610.[LNB] Let off: Carlos Tevez was guilty of a glaring miss in the first half when he poked the ball over with no-one between him and the back of the net[LNB]Mancini sent out a team which costaround £180million to assemble and was able to name seven men on thebench valued at around half that amount.[LNB]Bruce's starting XI cost less thanhalf the figure paid out for the visitors' substitutes, a measure ofthe gulf between the relative spending powers of the two clubs.[LNB]Predictably, it was City whodominated the opening 45 minutes with their pace and movement and inparticular, the guile of the hugely impressive Yaya Toure, repeatedlystretching the Wearsiders.[LNB]However, a combination of poorfinishing and good goalkeeping meant the Black Cats went in at thebreak with their clean sheet intact, and that would have been pleasingfor Bruce after a sub-standard display in defeat at West Brom lastweekend.[LNB]That said, just how City were not infront is something Tevez would have had to explain to his manager atthe break after a glaring 16th-minute miss.[LNB] [LNB] Battle: Yaya Toure produced a fine performance in midfield alongside Lee Cattermole who returned from suspension [LNB]The visitors looked certain to scorewhen Yaya Toure charged down Kieran Richardson's shot and then set offon a powerhouse run upfield which left the full-back and Lee Cattermoletrailing in his wake. [LNB]He might have passed early, butinstead drew Mignolet before squaring for Tevez. The Argentinian hadthe goal at his mercy, but contrived to scoop his shot high over thebar.[LNB]Tevez might have made amends 13minutes later after latching on to Richardson's misplaced pass, butMichael Turner did just enough to deflect the ball wide.[LNB]But it took a fine save fromMignolet at the death to deny Yaya Toure after James Milner's free-kickwas allowed to reach him unmarked at the far post.[LNB]For their part, Sunderland, whospent much of the half working desperately hard to close the visitorsdown, created little with Bent glancing an early header wide and JordanHenderson shooting just off target from distance.[LNB] [LNB] Shock: Subsitute Emmanuel Adebayor (centre) was denied in stunning fashion Simon Mignolet[LNB]However, the half ended in worryingfashion with Campbell following his team-mates into the dressing roomon a stretcher after a tangle of legs with Richards.[LNB]Bruce was forced into a reshuffle atthe break with Campbell unable to continue and Turner failing tore-appear, Danny Welbeck and Phil Bardsley taking their places.[LNB]However, it was his side whichresumed with the greater endeavour to remind City they were not goingto have things all their own way. [LNB] [LNB] Pure delight: Kieran Richardson celebrates Sunderland's win as City players reflect on their missed chances[LNB] [LNB]The game was becoming increasinglyopen and the focus was very much on Hart's goal. He had to punch clearas Bent rounded on Vincent Kompany's mistimed defensive header, and hethen clawed Ahmed Elmohamady's wind-assisted cross clear as itthreatened to sneak in at his near post.[LNB]For the first time in the game, thevisitors were coming under sustained pressure, and Welbeck slashedwildly over with 68 minutes gone.[LNB]The impetus was very much with theBlack Cats, but Mignolet had to pull off a superb reaction save to denyAdebayor a 79th-minute winner after Richards had headed Milner's cornerback across goal.[LNB]But the drama came right at thedeath and when referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot after Richards hadprevented Bent from reaching El-Mohamady's cross, the striker made nomistake as City conceded for the first time this season.[LNB] Sunderland eyeing up deadline move for Stoke City forward Tuncay SanliPremier League live: Follow the action from Sunday's gamesIbrahimovic secures return to city of Milan... but this time it's with ACMANCHESTER CITY FC
