Manchester City suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of New York Red Bulls on Sunday night at the Red Bull Arena. Roberto Mancini's side fielded a youthful look, but the likes of Joe Hart, Wayne Bridge pictured below), Stephen Ireland and Emmanuel Adebayor all started against a side rejuvenated by the arrival of former Arsenal star Thierry Henry.

Henry started for the hosts but was unable to find the net, however that mattered little as his team earned a deserved victory.

City had the first opening of the match when Jo smacked a shot straight at in-form Bulls keeper Bouna Coundoul from close range, and the Brazilian paid the price for his miss as his team fell behind moments later. Bridge was undone down the City left by the pace of Dane Richards, whose driven cross allowed Macoumba Kandji to slide the ball past Hart from a few yards out.

Adebayor looked to level the match when he tested Coundoul with a stinging drive, but the keeper was equal to the shot and pulled off a smart save.
Jo atoned for his earlier miss by netting the equaliser on 55 minutes after good work from substitute Greg Cunningham allowed the striker to flick the ball over the advancing keeper for a neatly taken goal.

But the Americans claimed victory when Richards went from provider to scorer when he smashed home a stunning 25-yard drive that cannoned in off the crossbar. City finish bottom of the Challenge group after suffering defeat to Sporting Lisbon earlier in the tournament, which also included Premier League rivals Tottenham.

ROBERTO MANCINI gave his Manchester City big guns the night off but his fringe players wilted in the New York heat.
Two first-half goals from Sporting Lisbon striker Yannick Djalo won the game for the Portuguese who are about to start the new season.
The likelihood is only three starters here - Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and Adam Johnson - will feature in City's first league game at Spurs in three weeks. Even so, it was a lacklustre display by Mancini's second string, who wasted the chance to catch the manager's eye.
Mancini said: "We were missing maybe 15 or 16 players and were playing against a team who are further on with their preparations for the new season. "They have played maybe eight games and have the Europa League next week so it is normal that we were slower. "There are a number of players who are just training and maybe six or seven who are not yet back because they played at the World Cup. "We are building our squad and still have 20 days to go."

Craig Bellamy - whose position is likely to be under threat from David Silva this season - was given a chance to impress. But the Welshman wasted two decent early chances to give City the lead as the Premier League side began brightly.

And it was Sporting who opened the scoring midway through the first half as Simon Vukcevic crossed from the right. Djalo got up highest and the Guinean-born forward's header just about had enough power to beat England keeper Joe Hart. It got worse for the Premier League's big-spenders six minutes before the break as Carlos Saleiro's clever flick completely deceived Kompany. Djalo raced clear again and he calmly went round Hart before slotting into the empty net for the second. The 24-year-old is expected to leave Lisbon this summer and has been linked with Tottenham and Everton. And he may now have more admirers as he caused plenty of problems for Kompany and his defensive partner Joleon Lescott.

City seemed to be lacking energy on a humid evening which saw the temperature topping 80 degrees Fahrenheit at kick-off time. Mancini threw on Wayne Bridge in place of rookie Greg Cunningham at the break but the former England man's future at Eastlands is in doubt. Lazio full-back Aleksandar Kolarov is on the brink of joining the Premier League's big spenders and is likely to be first choice on the left-hand side.

Another raft of subsitutions followed from both managers but it failed to change the course of the game as Sporting held on comfortably. City now play New York Red Bulls here tomorrow in the final game of the four-team tournament before flying on to Atlanta next week.

Tyrone Barnet and Nat Brown scored goal in either half of a 2-1 win for the Silkmen over Manchester City's 'Elite Squad'.

Although the Silkmen had the better of the chances throughout the game, Jose Veiga had twice been in action, sweeping up behind the back line, before the opening goal of the game. It was only 14 minutes in when the Silkmen won a a corner at the away end. Matt Hamshaw took the kick and found Tyrone Barnett who hit the underside of the bar before seeing his header bounce in.

The lead didn't last long as Elabdellouai equalised with an excellent solo effort only a few minutes later. Jinking past two challenges he advanced into the box before slotting past Veiga in the Macc goal.

But after the goal the chances were all Macclesfield as first Emile Sinclair seemed to be fouled just on the edge of the area before Tyrone Barnett saw his close range header blocked by a diving defender from close range.

From the corner both Nat Brown and Shaun Brisley rose to meet the ball but it was inches in front of both and neither could make contact.

With no changes at half time, the Silkmen retook the lead less than ten minutes after the break. Matt Hamshaw's free-kick found Nat Brown who headed home from the edge of the six yard box.

Vinny had two good opportunities breaking into the box wide on the right, but on neither occasion could he squeeze off a shot or find another bue shirt.

Carl Tremarco was replaced by another trialist, Jason Beardsley before Nat Brown was called into action with a well times challenge at the last second.

Macclesfield: Veiga, Reid, Tremarco, Brown, Brisley, Hamshaw, Butcher, Bolland, Daniel, Sinclair, Barnett.

Subs: Cudworth, Chalmers, Wedgbury, Lowe, Mukendi, Roberts, Beardsley

City: Karius, Vidal, Smith, McGivern, Tse, Abu, Razak, Elabdellouai, Poole, Benali, Chantler

Subs: Vesili, Johansen, Bunn, Olle-Roman

THE FOLLOWING ARE BACK UP DVD's 

Only the result spoils this superb
 quality DVD. Marvellous goal for
Jackie Milburn is worth seeing
on it's own.

The last game at Maine Road Slide show CD.
This CD contains over 60 images in a slide show with a great version of Blue Moon playing in the background. As a bonus I have included another slideshow with more pictures from the 2002-2003 season with a fabulous backing track. Email me now to order a copy of this great piece of memorabilia.
Buy it now for £1.50
including postage.

Manchester City
    v      
Leicester City

1969 FA CUP Final

 Top Quality DVD of City's last FA Cup Final Win

All the action + the goals from the 1956 final

CITY CLUB DVD's

Good to be Back
2002-2003

End of an Era
The last season at Maine Road

The Sky Blues
2003 - 2004

Pure Manchester
2005-2006

Blues Review
2006 - 2007 

Manchester City Jubilee Years - A great Man Evening News Slide Show of great action shots

Other Various Football DVD's

LIFE WITH THE BLUES - A look behind the scenes at City in 1987. Maine Road memories.
100 Great moments of the Kop - Liverpool's famous kop memories
Galatasaray The Movie - A great dvd made by Danny O'Leary, a fanatical Liverpool fan. It's a filmed version of the scouser's return to the Attaturk Stadium, Istanbul. All the songs, the game and a bonus DVD of slideshows and stuff.
This is a fans DVD which gives you a peep into the joys of following Britain's most successful club, bar none.
FC Bayern v Leeds United - The European Cup Final 1975 played at the Parc des Princes - Paris. Leeds were incredibly unlucky to lose this final. Here's a chance to watch a rare copy of this classic match, with French commentary and a pretty good quality picture.
 

England v Germany
1966 World Cup Final
Black & White

Manchester Uni£ed v Manchester City
Munich Tribute
Feb 10th 2008