Scunthorpe 2-4 Manchester City
Petrov opened the scoring for City
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Sunday, 24, Jan 2010 05:53
By Darren Estwick.
Manchester City survived a late scare to run out 4-2 winners over Scunthorpe United in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
City goals by Martin Petrov, Nedum Onuoha, Sylvinho and Robinho countered strikes by Scunthorpe's Paul Hayes and Cliff Byrne, giving the Premier League side safe passage through to the fifth round and a real chance of silverware this season.
It was a real blood and thunder encounter as City's higher skill level battled with Scunthorpe's never-say-die spirit, something that the home side needed in spades as they fell behind within the first two minutes of the game.
Petrov skipped past a challenge on the edge of the area before unleashing a powerful shot past keeper Joe Murphy right into the top right hand corner.
Scunthorpe retaliated with an attack of their own. A cross by McCann to the back post found the head of Byrne, but the defender could only hit the bar from close range. From the resulting scramble, Hayes was a whisker from directing the ball into the net.
The home side's frantic support were rewarded minutes later however when Hayes was presented with a second chance. With City's defence pushing up, a flick over the defence fell right onto the boot of Hayes whose volley flew past Taylor. Replays suggested that the striker may have been offside at the moment of the pass, but the Assistant gave the attackers the benefit of the doubt.
Robinho, apparently playing his last game for City, struggled throughout wasting a few good opportunities to put City ahead before a neat move just before half time gave the away side the edge.
Stephen Ireland slipped the ball inside the full back for the onrushing Onuoha who placed the ball past the keeper for a lead at half time.
City extended their lead in the opening minutes of the second half when Sylvinho struck a long range effort that dipped over Murphy for a spectacular goal , and could have turned the game into a rout after a six yard box scramble that saw the ball cleared off the line and Murphy produce a neat stop right on his line.
Scunthorpe were never beaten however and once again managed to get themselves back into the game when Byrne got his foot to a cross before it took a deflection of City's Boyata before finding the bottom corner.
As the match reached its conclusion, it began to resemble a basketball game with the home side searching for an equaliser and City looking for the killer fourth.
It was City who achieved their objective first when a slick move on the edge of the Scunthorpe box resulted in Robinho being put clean through on goal. The Brazilian put the gloss on what was an otherwise disappointing game for him with a finish high past Murphy.