City get out of jail with two late goals

Man City 3 Lokeren2

The Blues were trailing to Belgian minnows Lokeren until Robbie Fowler stuck out a leg to register the third goal of his City career.

Then Nicolas Anelka kept his nerve to fire home a spot-kick winner after Sun Jihai had been sent tumbling in the box.

Claudio Reyna was handed his first Manchester City start as Kevin Keegan’s side did all the pressing during the opening stages as Lokeren sat back trying to soak up the pressure. Their resistance did not last long.

Nicolas Anelka was bundled over on the edge of the area by Atte-Oudeyi Zanzan and Sibierski curled the free-kick into the net, although questions will be asked by the visitors why goalkeeper Mladen Dabanovic slid to his knees rather than diving.

Unfortunately, from a position of almost complete dominance, City were hit by a sucker punch and once again veteran goalkeeper David Seaman appeared to be at fault.

Sun Jihai’s attempt to head an aimless Lokeren punt downfield back to Seaman instead saw him loop the ball high into the air.

The goalkeeper appeared to have the situation under control, so Sun halted his run back. But, as Seaman allowed the ball to drop on the edge of his box, in nipped Patrick Zoundi, who sent a first-time shot bouncing into the net.

Seaman fumbled Zoundi’s shot round the post as his problems continued, although he did redeem himself by rushing out to collect Danny Tiatto’s headed back pass as Zoundi again gave chase.

City were starting to get frustrated and five minutes before the break the home fans were stunned into silence as their team conceded again.

Zoundi found a yard of space down the right and drilled over a low cross which Distin should have cleared but missed completely.

The ball ran straight onto Runar Kristinsson, who with clinical efficiency drilled a first-time effort into the corner which gave Seaman no chance.

Unsurprisingly, City emerged with purpose after the break and Fowler’s header flicked wide off Lezou Doba. But for all their efforts they could not find the net.

Just as City seemed to be running out of ideas, they were rescued by Fowler, who did not know much about it, as he shoved out a boot to meet Sibierski’s downward header.

There was enough power on it to surprise Dabanovic though, who could not keep the ball out despite getting a firm hand to it.

Now it was City on top and within two minutes, they had taken the lead as Michael van Hoey sent Sun flying in the penalty area to earn the home side a penalty which Anelka thrashed into the net.

The Frenchman almost grabbed his eighth goal of the season moments later when he blasted a short free-kick with such venom it nearly knocked Dabanovic over.

Man City: Seaman, Jihai, Sommeil, Distin, Tiatto, Bosvelt, Reyna, Sibierski, McManaman, Fowler, Anelka

Lokeren: Dabanovic, Conte, Muzinga, Doba, Zanzan, Van Hoey, Zoundi, Gretarsson, Vidarsson, De Beule, Kristinsson

Referee: G Gilewski (Poland)