Vassell sinks Black Cats

Vassell: Late winner

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• Manchester City
• Sunderland

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• Darius Vassell
• Dean Whitehead

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  • Elano

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Manchester City kept alive their slender European hopes with a somewhat fortuitous 2-1 win over Sunderland.

Substitute Darius Vassell grabbed the winner three minutes from time with a scuffed finish to end Sunderland's three-match winning run.

The game burst into life 11 minutes from time when City won a controversial penalty after Nyron Nosworthy was adjudged to have fouled City substitute Daniel Sturridge in the box and Elano scored from the spot.

The lead proved short-lived as Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead drew the home side level three minutes later with a superb volley from Andy Reid's cross.

City snatched the points three minutes from time when Vassell latched onto a pass from Elano to find the net and get Sven Goran Eriksson's men back to winning ways.

Intervention

After an instantly forgettable first half, the Black Cats dominated in the second and looked the more likely winners.

But referee Mike Riley's intervention sparked an eventful finish to the game to leave Roy Keane bemoaning one that got away.

Sunderland's best chance arrived with 23 minutes gone when Michael Chopra, once again lining up wide on the right, and Kieran Richardson combined to put Kenwyne Jones in on goal.

The powerful striker held off the equally physical Richard Dunne to get his shot in, but keeper Joe Hart made an important save.

Thereafter, Dunne threw himself into the path of Chopra's 32nd-minute drive and Stephen Ireland blocked Andy Reid's free-kick two minutes before the break, but Sunderland simply could not find a way past the massed ranks of blue shirts.

Eriksson would have been the happier manager as he headed for the dressing room, but there was little doubt that both sides would have to improve significantly if they were to stand a chance of collecting all three points.

Change

Keane opted for change at he break when he sent on Grant Leadbitter for Richardson and pushed Andy Reid out to the left wing.

But it was Daryl Murphy who was presented with a good opportunity within four minutes of the restart when Reid's cross found him beyond the far post.

The Irishman controlled well and moved the ball on to his left foot, but then curled his shot high over the bar.

Sunderland were finding more and more space as the game wore on, but were guilty of not using it to best effect on the hour when Reid and Murphy carved City apart, but could not put Hart under pressure.

Murphy saw a shot blocked behind by Dunne and Jonny Evans headed the resulting corner wide, and it was then that Keane decided the time had come to introduce winger Carlos Edwards.

Phil Bardsley came to the rescue when the ball ricocheted into the path of Michael Johnson with 19 minutes remaining as Sunderland were almost caught on the counter.

But the home side fell behind with 11 minutes remaining when Sturridge went down under Nosworthy's apparent challenge and Elano converted from the spot with ease.

Within three minutes, however, Sunderland were back on terms when Whitehead smashed Reid's cross past Hart, but the reprieve was short-lived as Vassell sent the travelling fans into raptures.