EPL Half time report: Manchester City vs. Aston Villa
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium
Starting XI for Manchester City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Toure Yaya, De Jong, Vieira, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adam-Johnson-c3537, Balotelli, Silva
Subs: Given, Bridge, Milner, Boateng, Barry, Jo, Tevez
Starting XI for Aston Villa: Friedel, Lichaj, Collins, Cuellar, Warnock, Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Downing, Bannan, Agbonlahor
Subs: Guzan, Pires, Delfouneso, Delph, Clark, Hogg, Herd
In a thrilling encounter between two of Premier League’s explosive sides, Manchester City hosted Aston Villa. City managed a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United on Boxing Day and a win here would put them on top of the Premier League table;
momentarily.
City started the match in emphatic fashion, when they found the opening break through Italian http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eric-Lichaj-c12709 and the referee immediately signalled towards the spot. Balotelli
then managed a calm, if not a cocky finish, towards the right hand side and City were in front during the 7th minute.
The lead was then doubled in the 13th minute, when defender Jolean Lescott managed a well placed header. The defender managed a shot on goal from the corner, which passed the line before defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barry-Bannan-c7309 headed
it clear. The linesman was right on the spot to give the decision and Citizens were now two goals ahead of the visitors. The away team didn’t seem to be combining at all making City romping them over.
Mario Balotelli then doubled up his own tally in the 26th minute. It was all Silva in the goal, who skipped past an army of Aston Villa defenders inside the box and then unleashed a powerful shot. The goal keeper
couldn’t keep the ball and deflected it into feet of Balotelli who was too sharp to miss an open goal.
City had the chance to score as many goals as they wanted in the game as Aston Villa continued to struggle with their chemistry. Skipper Carlos Tevez was seen warming up hence from here on it seems the score line could only get better
for the Citizens, who would be looking for the top spot. With rivals Manchester United lined up to play Birmingham City later in the day, it seems City have secured all three points for themselves and would be top of the Premier League table.
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