Big-spending Man City outdone by controversial penalty
Sunday, 28 Sep 2008 21:03
Amr Zaki scored his sixth goal of the season.
Wigan Athletic stunned Manchester City with a controversial 2-1 win at the JJB Stadium.
A sensational 30-yard strike by Anthony Valencia was cancelled out by Vincent Kompany's leveller for City, before Amr Zaki's dubious spot-kick gave the Latics victory.
Both sides came close with long-range efforts in the opening minutes with Elano lashing a shot wide after Titus Bramble's poor clearance while Amr Zaki fizzed a shot inches wide for the Latics.
And it was a thunderous effort that gave the home side the lead on 16 minutes when Valencia rifled a 30-yard effort past Joe Hart into the top corner.
That sparked a thrilling passage of play with Robinho coming close to a quick-fire equaliser but the Brazilian put his effort wide from the edge of the box.
But City fans did not have to wait long for the equaliser when Elano's free-kick struck Valencia before coming off Kompany's knee and into the net.
Wigan continued to dominate and regained the lead on 33 minutes after Javier Garrido was adjudged to have tripped Wilson Palacios.
Although there appeared to be contact, referee Steve Bennett did not penalise Palacios for his extravagant dive, and Zaki stepped up to slot the spot-kick home and make it 2-1.
Mark Hughes' side bombarded the Wigan goal in the closing stages of the half with Chris Kirkland tipping Shaun Wright-Phillips' miscued cross over bar, while Richard Dunne felt he should have had a penalty when tripped by Emile Heskey.
Despite their embarrassment of riches in attack, the visitors were reduced to long-range efforts in the second half with Jo firing a free-kick over while Elano's 25-yard strike flew inches wide.
City cranked up the pressure with Stephen Ireland, watched in the crowd by Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni, toe-poking an effort wide while Kirkland pushed Wright-Phillips' strike round the post.
Despite the introduction of Ched Evans and Daniel Sturridge, the visitors were unable to grab an equaliser as Wigan held on.
The win for Wigan puts them in ninth place, level on points with champions Manchester United, while City slip to eighth place.