Sunderland vs Manchester City. Carabao Cup Round 3.
Stadium of Light.
Tuesday 22 September 2015 23:45, UK
First half goals from Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling helped Manchester City to a comprehensive Capital One Cup third round win at Sunderland.
The Black Cats made a bright start with Fabio Borini twice going close before City sprang into action.
They took the lead from the penalty spot after Patrick van Aanholt clumsily brought down Jesus Navas. Aguero stepped up and sent Vito Mannone the wrong way and from there, City never looked back.
De Bruyne doubled their lead soon after, beating Mannone at his near post having been put through by Sterling and the former Liverpool man was heavily involved in the next two Blues goals.
First, he saw his shot come back off the post, hit Mannone and trickle over the line before finishing confidently into the far corner for City's fourth.
Ola Toivonen pulled one back for Sunderland late on but it was far too little, too late for Dick Advocaat's beleaguered side.
It was a highly impressive response from Manchester City following their defeat to West Ham at the weekend as Manuel Pellegrini named a near full strength side, Willy Caballero replacing Joe Hart in goal and Fernando coming in for Fernandinho the only notable changes.
However, while the visitors' quality was evident for long spells, it was Sunderland errors that allowed them to take control of the game in the first instance.
Van Aanholt lost his bearings before bundling over Navas on the right side of the area. It was a clear penalty and Aguero made no mistake from 12 yards.
The second came from a lovely pass from Sterling in between the full-back and the centre-back to find De Bruyne who took on the shot from a tight angle. He hit it well but Mannone will have been disappointed to have been beaten at his near post.
At that point, Sunderland's players seemed to lose their heads as panic took over. A series of sloppy passes and numerous miscontrols prevented them getting out of their half and invited wave after wave of City attack.
The third came from a neat move down the right. Sagna and Navas combined before the latter crossed. It was too near to the keeper but Mannone could only push the low ball out as far as Sterling, eight yards out. The winger's shot hit the post but rebounded off Mannone and into the net. A perfect summation of Sunderland's night.
Sterling made it four when De Bruyne slipped him in down the left channel. The England man kept his composure, opened up his body and side-footed the ball into the far corner.
With the game all but won before the break, City were able to simply go through the motions in the second half.
Sunderland pushed on in search of a goal that could offer them an unlikely route back into the game. However, it took until the final 15 minutes for them to lay a glove on the league leaders.
Borini was played in down the right but his shot was kept out by the legs of Caballero.
Sunderland did eventually get one back as Toivonen headed in DeAndre Yedlin's cross at the near post. It was little comfort to the Sunderland fans who had seen their side so masterfully pulled apart in the opening 45 minutes.
City, meanwhile, progress to the fourth round of the competition they won in 2014.
