Europa League: Manchester City 2-0 Lech Poznan – First Half Analysis: Emmanuel Adebayor the man for the Blues
Manchester City continue to impress this season in all competitions, as the Citizens ended the first half against Lech Poznan at 2-0 and completely dominated the first 45 minutes.
It was quite a positive start by Manchester City, but could have been undone by Slawomir Peszko, who slammed goal-wards from an angle - but it went wide.
Manchester City clearly bossed the early stages, but the away side did have a couple of good chances. Twice City showed some frailty in defence, particularly by Nigel de Jong. Still, the hosts looked dangerous going forward.
Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right wing and David Silva on the left were constantly making runs from both flanks. But the final ball in the box was not able to find a head. City changed the mode of attack and started playing more
from the centre, and it quickly paid off.
Carlos Tevez was given a rest by Roberto Mancini so Emmanuel Adebayor started the match, and did end his scoring drought for the season. Emmanuel Adebayor turned brilliantly on Patrick Vieira's pass on the edge of the box, and
used his big frame to keep hold of the defender while calmly slotting the ball in the far corner.
It was just the start Manchester City were looking for: Lech Poznan were pushed right back and they looked quite shaken. Adam Johnson then worked some space in the box and it was crying out for a shot - instead he laid it off to
Emmanuel Adebayor, who was tackled and the attack fizzled away.
Finally the away side got something going: Kamil Drygas sent a long range effort towards Joe Hart; the City keeper collected on the second attempt but with relative ease.
Lech Poznan had reacted pretty positively after going a goal down, but the hosts were still well in control. And as City once again switched attacking from wings, that too paid off soon enough. David Silva made a surging run on
the left wing and played in an inch perfect cross from close to the by-line, and who else but Emmanuel Adebayor was there to head it past the keeper in the same corner where he scored his first.
The match looked pretty much done and dusted right there, but the away side continued to fight. Moments after the goal, there was a decent break from Lech Poznan. Slawomir Peszko just failed to get on the end of Marcin Kikut's
cross on the run and the move faded away but still, the intent was there. And they would need plenty of that as they would need to keep out the star-studded line up of Manchester City in the 2nd half, as the first half ended at 2-0.
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