Europa League: Manchester City v Lech Poznań full time report
Man City 3 Lech Poznań 1
Emmanuel Adebayor hit a hat-trick – his first goals of the season – as Manchester City saw off a spirited Lech Poznań at Eastlands to take control of Europa League Group A.
Forward Adebayor struck twice in the first period, firstly slotting into the far corner following a pass from Patrick Vieira, before angling a header into the same corner from David Silva’s cross.
Joel Tshibamba gave the Polish visitors hope with a close range finish shortly after the break and the Congolese forward missed a golden opportunity to equalise when he fired over from 10 yards.
Shortly afterwards, another excellent Silva centre found Adebayor, who coolly completed his treble with a right footed finish.
The goals will come as a relief to the Togolese striker, who has been attracting criticism for below-par performances this season.
City were always firm favourites to see off the Poles at Eastlands, and Roberto Mancini showed the strength of his formidable squad by making seven changes from the side that beat Blackpool at the weekend, but still naming a strong XI.
Slawomir Peszko drove wide for the visitors early on, but it was City who started the better, and soon underlined their extra quality with the opening goal.
Vieira picked out Adebayor on the edge of the penalty area, and after a clever turn the Togolese forward expertly slid a low effort into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season. He wouldn’t have to wait long for his second.
Again City’s attack just looked too good for the Poles, and it was 2-0 when Silva’s cross from the left was expertly directed into the bottom corner of the net by Adebayor. Apparently the London buses metaphor works in Manchester too.
City were looking good, but Lech weren’t going to lie down, and youngster Kamil Drygas drove an effort over as the visitors looked to hit back. However, they were often restricted to shots from long range, and with City content to let them do that, Poznań knew that they would need to improve in the second half.
They did. Early in the half, hesitant City defending allowed Peszko into the box, and after he was tripped by Joleon Lescott, Poznań had a real appeal for a penalty. They didn’t get it, but they didn’t mind, as the ball fell for Tshibamba to fire into the bottom corner from close range, and set City hearts fluttering.
The goal encouraged Poznań boss Jacek Zielinski to bring on Artjoms Rudnevs – the forward who scored a hat-trick against Juventus earlier in the competiton – to partner Tshibamba upfront, but City were soon back on the attack with Silva, whose effort after a good run was well saved by Jasmin Buric.
Adebayor was denied his third by some excellent last ditch defending, before Adam Johnson drove a free kick disappointingly wide, but City couldn’t kill off their spirited opponents, who were pressing for an unlikely equaliser.
They should have got it when Tshibamba found himself in the clear around 10 yards out – only to balloon his shot over the crossbar, and he was soon to regret that miss.
With just under 20 minutes remaining, Vieira fed Silva down the left, and the Spaniard delivered a superb curling cross into the penalty area, which was just begging to be finished by Adebayor. The Togolese obliged, becoming the first Manchester City player to score a hat-trick in European competition in the process, and ensuring the three points for the hosts.
A miscontrol from Adebayor denied him the chance for his fourth, before a terrific run from Johnson ended in an angle drive that shaved the post.
The Poles never stopped trying, and Tshibamba almost got lucky when he charged down a Hart clearance – only to see his effort go over the bar.
He may have scored, but it was another African forward’s night, and Adebayor will hope he can kick on from here and cement a place in the team. Who needs Wayne Rooney?
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