“"I know that such moments are worth working for. If I had to work 15 years just to have one moment like this, I would do it." ”, Vincent Kompany – 15/04/2017.
Goals: ;Kompany (55'), Sané (77'), Agüero (80')
Line Up (4-1-4-1, 4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Bravo (6)
Navas (6.5)
Otamendi (7)
Kompany (8.5)
Clichy (5.5)
Fernandinho (6.5)
Sané (8), (Sterling 86' (5.5))
De Bruyne (8)
Silva (6)
Toure (7)
Agüero (7)
Referee; Neil Swarbrick (6)
Stats;Possession, 41%/59%; Shots, 8(1)/18(8); Corners, 3/8; Fouls, 9/8
A positive step towards the top four at Saint Mary's, a ground which has been difficult for City in recent years. After dispensing with a laborious and purposeless first half game plan, City came out in the second having remembered the basics which have served them best throughout the season. Kevin De Bruyne pulled the strings up front, whilst providing two assists to add to his "best in Premier League" total, and Leroy Sane was pace and trickery personified, but perhaps the biggest smile on every City fan's face will be because the big man was back with a bang. Vincent Kompany topped an imperious defensive display and clean sheet, with a bullet header passed Fraser Forster, to open the scoring from Silva's corner from the right on 55'.
The second goal was the pick of the three, on 77' a quick interchange between Silva and De Bruyne on the half way line, saw the Belgian stride charge away from the Southampton defence before squaring the ball to an onrushing Sane to calmly slot home without breaking his run, 2-0.
Three minutes later is was De Bruyne again, this time overlapping Navas on the right wing, to get to the byline and clip a perfect cross for Aguero to score the second header of the game, 3-0.
The second goal was the pick of the three, on 77' a quick interchange between Silva and De Bruyne on the half way line, saw the Belgian stride charge away from the Southampton defence before squaring the ball to an onrushing Sane to calmly slot home without breaking his run, 2-0.
Three minutes later is was De Bruyne again, this time overlapping Navas on the right wing, to get to the byline and clip a perfect cross for Aguero to score the second header of the game, 3-0.
So going into Sunday's matches City sit in third, a point above fourth place Liverpool, but more importantly seven above fifth place Everton. But with both United and Arsenal playing tomorrow and having a game in hand to boot, this was an important game to come away with maximum points, before going into next weekend's FA Cup Semi-Final.
So hopefully Kompany's display gives Pep pause before picking the team against Arsenal, and this is the start of the rest of Vincent's City career, and not a false dawn. Certainly both this season and last could have been a different story had City's talismanic skipper been fit. #CTID.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
