City 2 Sheffield W 1
FA Cup R3 - Jan 4th 2015 44,309
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WH Smith and the City shop
We witnessed another miracle after a terrible first half display by City. The introduction of Nasri and Silva enabled City to restore some pride by equalizing through a good goal by birthday boy James Milner and then as added time started it looked like a replay was inevitable but the birthday boy did it again and took City into the 4th round.
It must have been very disappointing for the massive Wednesday support who filled the South Stand as their team played very well albeit against a six changed poor City side. City hardly had a chance in the first 60 minutes and there was a dearth of creativity and invention of any kind. Full backs Sagna and Kolarov did not have good games -the latter being subbed later on so poor was his form. Poor marking gave Wednesday the lead after 14 minutes and the way City were playing memories of the 7 nil Capitol Cup win were fading rapidly. Yaya Toure in his last game before departing for Africa was not at his best on this very cold afternoon and only the introduction of Silva and Nasri changed the game and it was left for James Milner 29 today to mark his birthday with two very precious goals.
City made six changes for this game Sagna and Kolarov were the full backs and Boyata had a rare start partnering Mangala.
Sheffield Wednesday had excellent and noisy support in the South Stand
Jovetic has a shot blocked
Jovetic has another chance but the flag is up for offside
On 14 minutes away went May down the right wing and his cross was met by Nuhiu who shot past Caballero
and Wednesday were a goal up - ooops that was not in the script!
The visiting fans were ecstatic on taking the lead
Kirkland beats jovetic to the ball
Toure's shot goes well wide
a Frank Lampard shot goes just wide of the post
Toure is pulled up for a foul
Jovetic has a shot saved but is offside
Delay as Dielna receives treatment for an injury
Caballero has to take a catch at the start of the second half
Lees tries to reach the ball!
Caballero saves from Lees
A cross by Navas is just missed by Lampard
Lampard has a shot saved but is offside
The visitors clear a City corner
a Yaya Toure free kick is blocked by the wall
Then on 65 minutes Silva fed Milner who cut in on goal
Milner shoots through the legs of Kirkland ......
... and City have equalized and the players celebrate
Toure shoots over the bar
Palmer has a chance for Wednesday but shoots into the side netting
Milner has a shot blocked on 71 minutes
a Milner cross is cleared
Just as we went into the 89th minute Nasri fought his way down the right .......
.... he passed to Silva but his shot was saved by Kirkland - was that our last chance!
no - we headed into added time and Sagna passed to Navas who dashed down the wing
...he cut in and passed to Silva....
....somehow the ball ran to Milner who scored from close range -
Wonderful - Milner had saved the day for City
In the dying seconds Wedensday got a corner and their keeper came up for it but it was cleared and Silva.......
......sent Navas away but his shot at an empty goal was blocked by a defender and then we had the final whistle - City were through to round 4
Team
Caballero 6: Sagna 6, Boyata 5.5, Mangala 5.5, Kolarov 4 (Clichy) Fernando 6, Toure 6.5, Navas 6.5, Lampard 6 ( Silva 7) Milner 7.5, Jovetic 6 ( Nasri7)
