Manchester City vs Charlton Athletic
Match pulse
MNCAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Man City 3-2
Manchester City beat Charlton Athletic 3-2 on Sunday, February 12, 2006 at City of Manchester Stadium. Goals for Man City: Richard Dunne (22'), Georgios Samaras (54') and Joey Barton (62'). Goals for Charlton: Darren Bent (51') and Marcus Bent (66').
Play by play
- 92'
FULL-TIME: Woeful first half, stunning second half. City edge out their visitors, but it could have gone either way. 45 minutes that had everything - great goals, contentious decisions, awful defending. Gee whizz.
- 91'
City try and waste some time as they keep the ball near the corner flag.
- 90'
INCREDIBLE SAVE! James makes a quite superb save, low down to his right as he keeps out Talal El Karkouri's powerful volley at his near post. Great save.
- 89'
A fantastic left-foot pass from Ireland out to Samaras, in space on the right wing. The linesman correctly flags for off-side.
- 89'
James comes through a crowd and punches clear to relieve some of the pressure building on his defence.
- 89'
A Dunne clearing header drifts behind for a late Charlton corner...
- 88'
Charlton are pressing for a late equaliser, but City are showing great committment and determination to keep their lead and take the points.
- 87'
Young is adjudged to have fouled Riera as the two tussled for the ball as the City man broke down the right; the Charlton man is furious with the decision.
- 86'
A loose pass from Riera puts his side under pressure, and Dunne is forced to make a crucial interception to keep the ball from reaching Bent on the edge of the penalty area.
- 85'
Kisichev blocks Riera's cross from the left, and City win a corner. The ball ends at the feet of Sibierski inside the area, but his left-foot shot is high and wide.
- 84'
It is pouring down with rain at the moment, and a few players are finding it difficult to keep their feet.
- 83'
Musampa takes the free-kick, but his shot is poor and hit straight at the Charlton wall. City's free-kicks have been dreadful all afternoon.
- 82'
A strong run by Samaras wins his side a free-kick when he is brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Talal El Karkouri.
- 81'
Riera seems to have been asked to play up front alongside Samaras for the final few minutes of the game, with Ireland playing just behind the front two.
- 80'
Barton just can't take advantage of a ridiculous little flick inside his own penalty area by Young.
- 79'
CITY SUB: Cole pulls up with some sort of calf injury, and is replaced by Ireland. Pearce opts to shore up his midfield by bringing on his impressive young playmaker.
- 78'
Samaras does well to control a Sibierski throw on his chest and fire over a great low cross, though Cole doesn't read the near post ball and Myhre saves.
- 77'
City win three corners in rapid succession, though Riera's delivery from the left is poor and Charlton are able to deal with the threat.
- 77'
WHAT A SAVE! Barton sends a free-kick in towards the back post, and Sibierski meets it with a firm header. Myhre denies him with a flying save. Corner.
- 76'
This game could still go either way; both sides have looked very shakey at the back since the break, and there are plenty of attacking players who could make them pay.
- 75'
WIDE! Hreidarsson flashes a header just wide of the far post as he gets on the end of a free-kick, drifted in from the left wing.
- 74'
CHARLTON SUB: Hughes, Thomas and Smertin are replaced by Euell, Bothroyd and Ambrose. A trio of attacking changes from Curbishley as he searches for an equaliser.
- 73'
Sibierski's rash challenge from behind gives Charlton a free-kick, and the midfielder is lucky not to see yellow.
- 72'
Distin gets lucky as bent almost capitalises on a wild swing as the City captain attempted to clear his lines on the edge of the penalty area.
- 71'
WHAT? Samaras is through on goal; he has Cole up in support, but instead opts to shoot - and somehow contrives to screw the ball wide of the post with the outside of his right-foot. Absolutely rubbish.
Leaders
MNCCHA 
