Boyata opens account as City cruise through

MANCHESTER CITY achieved their goal of reaching the group stages of the Europa League with the minimum of fuss.

Boyata opens account as City cruise through

Holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg of the play-off in Romania they coasted through in front of their own fans.

Shaun-Wright Phillips made the breakthrough and Dedryk Boyata extended their lead with his first goal for the club.

Manager Roberto Mancini rang the changes and kept only four of the side that started in the 3-0 victory against Liverpool on Monday.

Vincent Kompany was named captain while goalkeeper Joe Hart, Micah Richards and Nigel De Jong were also retained.

Despite switching things around Mancini was still able to call on two World Cup winners in Spain’s David Silva and France’s Patrick Vieira.

City put the visitors under the cosh from the off, with De Jong and Silva bringing the best out of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

City eventually got their reward in the 42nd minute and made it 2-0 on aggregate with a fine move.

De Jong picked out Vieira and he split the defence with a glorious through-ball to Wright-Phillips.

The England winger had little hesitation in rattling a shot beyond the goalkeeper.

City made it 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate in the 59th minute thanks to Boyata.

The 20-year-old defender climbed high at the back post to thump a header into the net following a free-kick from Silva. Adebayor should have scored following a dreadful backpass by Ovidiu Burca but somehow theformer Arsenal striker clipped his shot wide.

Then Silva saw his effort blocked before Jo sent a header off target as the visitors began to wilt.

Timisoara held out in the final few minutes while City will look forward to the draw tomorrow and the next stage of their European adventure.

MAN CITY: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Zabaleta, Boyata, Wright-Phillips, Silva, Vieira, De Jong (Cunningham 64), Adebayor, Jo.

TIMISOARA: Pantilimon, Luchin, Burca, Sepsi, Mera, Alexa (Chiacu 82), Curtean (Goga 57), Contra, Bourceanu, Axente, Magera (Zicu 46).

Referee: M de Sousa

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