City 6 West Ham United 0
January 8th 35,000
Capitol Cup Semi-Final leg 1
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WH Smith and the City shop
Well it looks like another trip to Wembley for City after this six nil thrashing of West Ham. The visitors were completely outplayed by City who had 70% of the play and with 32 shots on goal and some fine saves by Adrian the score might have risen to double figures! Considering their recent results and the way the game went their supporters were magnificent and deserved better by the West Ham players. The passing by City was wonderful at times and Negredo once again showed what a great signing he was. His first effort from a terrific long pass by Toure was brilliant and Dzeko too had a good game. He too might have got a hat-trick but for some good saves while Nasri and Silva played an important part in several of the goals. To be honest the defence had hardly anything to do and Pantilimon had nothing to do.
There were no yellow cards shown and West Ham rarely got near enough to a City player to tackle him!
For me it was revenge for the 6-1 defeat I had to endure in May 1963 when we were relegated to Div 2!
I was a guest of left back Cliff Sear that day as Bobby Moore,Martin Peters and Hurst tore City apart.
West Ham had a very good number of supporters who were noisy throughout the game despite the score.
City again made several changes from the Blackburn cup tie bringing back some of the first choice players
City were early on the attack and after good work down the left wing Adrian was able to save from Negredo
A rare moment as Pantilimon has to catch a corner then a long ball from Yaya Toure finds the left foot of Negredo and bang .....
...its in the back of the net after only 11 minutes. Great technique by Negredo
City celebrate and we had the rare sight of big flags in the South Stand
Leaving Yaya Toure on the ground injured City play on and an effort by Silva is pushed out by the West Ham keeper...
...City come back again - Toure still down- and this time Nasri shoots and Adriana saves for a corner
Garcia checks whether Yaya is still alive and eventually he limps off but is back on in a few minutes -
Ah the miracle of the magic sponge!
On 25 minutes City went two up. A good pass by Dzeko gave Negredo a chance and he made no mistake with that trusty left foot of his.
Once again it was a well taken goal and we felt it was only a matter of how many we would score this evening
ten minutes later and Nasri set up Dzeko for number three but alas Dzeko's shot went well over the bar
What's this! A bit of passion by a West Ham player!
We didn't have long to wait for number three as Yaya Toure started on one of his long runs from his own half...
on and on he went before shooting past Adriana to make it three nil A great individual effort
Out came the flags and plans for Wembley were discussed!
Hooded Sam Allardyce did not seem all that pleased with the situation. At least he didn't have an umbrella!
Just before half time Pantilimon actually had to make a save but it wasn't too difficult
Three minutes after the break good play by City....
...... gave Negredo a chance and his left foot swept the deflected pass into the West Ham goal to make it 4 nil
His magnificent play had deserved the three goals and it was definitely game and tie over
A foul on the edge of the area on Negredo gave Yaya Toure a chance to add to his score but the ball went just over the bar
A Dzeko effort goes just past the post
however on 60 minutes a cross from Clichy
.... was met by Dzeko at the near post and he netted to make it five nil
On 70 minutes a header by Dzeko is well saved by the West Ham keeper
As usual Pellegrini greets his players who are subbed
cannot remember ever seeing a Rat on the field.
Dzeko was thwarted again by the keeper as his shot is well saved
Kolarov is fouled by Diame and from the short free kick Kolarov pulls the ball back ......
...and Dzeko smashes the ball into the back of the net on 88 minutes and its six nil
so it looks like City will be playing either United or Sunderland at Wembley in the final
Team
Pantilimon 6.5: Zabaleta 7, Kompany 7, Lescott 7, Clichy 7: Yaya Toure 7.5 (Demichelis ) Nasri 7.5, Garcia 6.5, Silva 7.5 (Lopes) Dzeko 8, Negredo 9 (Kolarov)
