City's season Fizzles Out as players think Holiday!
Middlesbrough 2-1 Man City                           Back to Main Page
 
Massimo Maccarone celebrates his goal for Middlesbrough
 
Two first-half goals sealed victory for Middlesbrough as Manchester City failed to grab the point which would put their Premiership survival beyond all doubt.

Massimo Maccarone fired Boro into the lead when his sliced cross beat keeper David James, and Joseph-Desire Job set up an easy second for Szilard Nemeth.

Paulo Wanchope gave City hope when he collected a pass from Paul Bosvelt, turned and shot into the bottom corner.

City had a possible equaliser ruled out for a foul on keeper Mark Schwarzer.

 

City boss Kevin Keegan knew only a mathematical miracle could send his side down, and was keen to chase the extra cash which comes with finishing higher up in the table.

But the visitors found themselves behind after just eight minutes.

Maccarone picked up a pass from Boudewijn Zenden, tricked his way past Richard Dunne and sliced the ball in at the near post as he tried to drive a cross towards Nemeth.

KEY MOMENTS
8 mins: Maccarone's mis-hit cross flies in for Boro
32 mins: Nemeth makes it 2-0
35 mins: Wanchope pulls one back with a low shot
Boro looked to be cruising on 32 minutes when Danny Mills crossed from the right and Job's header back across goal presented Nemeth with a simple finish

But, having struggled to muster an attack for the first half hour, City suddenly found themselves back in the game.

Wanchope received the ball from Bosvelt, tricked his way past Danny Mills and placed his shot inside the far post.

City thought they had levelled it but referee Mike Riley decided Schwarzer had been fouled as he jumped for a Shuan Wright-Phillips cross.

At the other end, James kept out a shot from Maccarone, and Ugo Ehiogu shot into the side-netting after a scramble at a corner.

City almost levelled after the break when Ehiogu was dispossessed by Claudio Reyna, but a deflection off Mills' shins stopped the ball falling to Nicolas Anelka.

Nemeth drove straight at James and wasted another chance after a speedy break down the middle.

Wanchope showed great skill to carve out a shooting chance, but his final contact to be feeble, and Anelka fired into the crowd with a turn and shot.

 

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Mills, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Zenden, Mendieta, Boateng, Greening, Nemeth, Job, Maccarone (Downing 63).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Ricketts, Morrison, Bates.

Booked: Nemeth.

Man City: James, Jihai, Distin, Dunne, Tarnat, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Bosvelt (Sibierski 61), Reyna, Anelka (Macken 74), Wanchope (Elliott 74).
Subs Not Used: Arason, Jordan.

Booked: Tarnat.

Attendance: 34,734.                 

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).                                                             Back to Main Page