Manchester City 2-4 Aston Villa (aet)
Last updated on .From the section Football
Manchester City suffered a shock Capital One Cup third round extra-time defeat by Aston Villa.
Mario Balotelli drove in a shot to put the home side in front before Gareth Barry turned an Andreas Weimann cross into his own net for Villa's equaliser.
Aleksandar Kolarov's free-kick put City back ahead but Gabriel Agbonlahor swept in a shot as Villa levelled again.
In extra-time, Charles N'Zogbia slotted in after a parried shot by Agbonlahor, whose deflected strike sealed the win.
The League Cup may not have been high up on City manager Roberto Mancini's list of priorities this season but the defeat and the manner of it will be a concern.
His side have already conceded 14 goals in seven games this season as City struggle to recapture the defensive qualities which helped them win the Premier League last season.
Villa's win follows a 4-1 league defeat by Southampton on Saturday and will give their manager Paul Lambert plenty of encouragement.
City made 10 changes to their team which drew 1-1 with Arsenal on Sunday, although it was going to be 11 before centre-back Joleon Lescott replaced injured Jack Rodwell late on.
The alteration appeared to unsettle the home side as they made a sluggish start, while Villa were showing plenty of promise and purpose.
Weimann had a shot deflected wide and Christian Benteke blazed an effort over before the visitors lost their concentration and were clinically punished by City.
City midfielder James Milner, playing against his former club, found an unmarked Balotelli and he took a touch before driving in a shot for his sixth goal in four games against Villa.
The home side came out with more urgency after the break but, like the opener, the second goal came against the run of play as Villa equalised.
Weimann delivered a cross into the City area which was palmed out by keeper Costel Pantilimon and deflected off Barry for an own goal.
City regained the lead through a superb Kolarov free-kick and appeared set to surge on to victory, with Carlos Tevez firing a free-kick on to the top of Villa crossbar.
But the visitors refused to be beaten as they showed fighting spirit and character, which was matched by Lambert on the touchline as he was involved in a confrontation with Mancini following a tackle on the pitch involving Barry and Villa's Joe Bennett.
And it was Agbonlahor who forced extra-time when he used his pace to surge into the area before rifling home.
In the extra 30 minutes, City failed to find the guile to break down a resolute Villa side and the visitors capitalised on the counter-attack to knock City out.
Pantilimon could only parry Agbonlahor's shot and N'Zogbia rolled in the rebound.
Agbonlahor then scored with a deflected strike, his brace being his first goals since January, to complete the fightback.
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Really??? They have spent over 1/2 billion on 22 international players and you are telling me that line up they fielded is second rate??? Check the team sheet out mate and work out how much they all cost:
Nastasic, Toure , Lescott, Rodwell, Milner, Barry, Kolarov, Razak , Tevez, Balotell..........
Well at the end of the day (footie cliche!) they're all tin-pot cups really....
I mean in 50 years time when we're in WW3, fighting for the last remaining drops of oil, nuclear bombs falling all around us and the ice caps melted into oblivion, who's going to care who won the Premier/Champions League in 2011/12 or 2012/13 etc etc :)
I could hardly bear to listen, and yet what joy in the end to hear those Citeh boys go down complaining as usual when they are beaten.
No supreme right to win any game, they ought to remember that, and all the sweeter for seeing the big boys who played for Mancini. And the best bit? Barry forgetting who he played for.
@14 - We made 6 changes to our line up from Saturday too! City were still massively stronger than us...
@ 8 - If this kickstarts our season then it could well be the highlight.
@54 - if that story is true it's disgusting
UTV
Fact is, City fielded a strong team with a few youngsters getting a chance. At home, they should have won it comfortably. To concede 4 is shocking.
Y.Toure and Kompany get seriously injured, then I would be very worried if I were a City fan.
Great result for Villa, and good character to fight back from going behind twice. Hopefully they can show that spirit in the next few Prem games and climb the table a bit.
Anyway Villa dropped loads of players as well. Plus were blooding players without match fitness. Man City had a stronger team than Villa on paper.
Not that simple!
They could pull the plug on the charity handouts at any point and the club would go into administration and they would lose alot less money winding it up that way than continually paying millions and millions every year to keep it a float.
The money they have mean its is purely a play thing and nothing stopping them hitting the distruct button im afraid!
Somehow think that it wasnt Mancinis choice to not bring in 10 players in the transfer window.
Is your memory that short that u forget him being 'unhappy' at lack of signings? Think the suggar daddy is finally wising up that itll take decades to start seeing any kind of return moneywise so is cutting back the charity!
Not that long ago, City and it's fans would have been delighted to have won this cup.
Now they have bought success, the League Cup is a 'distraction' and not really of interest.
How sad.
Most football fans used to have a soft spot for MCFC, now most football fans enjoy seeing them fail.
Sometimes, you have to be careful what you wish for !