Premier League - City and Burnley split thriller

Eurosport - Sat, 07 Nov 13:15:00 2009

Manchester City shared a pulsating 3-3 draw with Burnley in their Premier League clash at Eastlands.

Burnley's Steven Fletcher celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Andre Bikey (l) and Chris Eagles - 0

Graham Alexander had opened the scoring from the spot before Steven Fletcher put the visitors two goals to the good.

Shaun Wright-Phillips's lucky deflection gave City one back before the break, and two goals in three minutes from Kolo Toure and Craig Bellamy helped the hosts get their noses in front.

But just when it seemed City would complete a memorable comeback win, Kevin McDonald powered home from close range to earn the Clarets a share of the points.

The match got off to an auspicious start for Burnley as Alexander's low cross on eight minutes gave Robbie Blake a chance to power a low shot just past the right-hand post.

City winger Wright-Phillips looked dangerous on the right for the hosts, however, while Bellamy also looked to make openings on the left.

But there were no clear chances for either side until Tyrone Mears charged up the right for Burnley and lofted in a cross which was stopped by the outstretched hand of Joleon Lescott.

The former Everton defender knew little about it, but with his arm stretched out and aloft the referee had no option but to award the spot kick, which Alexander crunched into the bottom left corner to defy Shay Given's dive to the correct side.

Barely 10 minutes later Burnley came within a whisker of making it two as Chris Eagles's deflected free-kick demanded a brilliant reaction save from Given.

The Ireland keeper could not hold on to the ball, however, and Eagles put the ball in once more leaving Fletcher - who had beaten the offside trap perfectly - to tap in from the edge of the six-yard box.

Burnley seemed to be flying, but a cruel piece of luck two minutes from the end of the half kept City in it as Wright-Phillips's shot from the corner of the box deflected off the legs of Stephen Jordan and span wickedly around the diving Brian Jensen.

City started the second half the brighter of the two teams but never really looked like troubling the Burnley defence until two goals in three minutes turned the game on its head.

First came a long free kick played toward the back post by Barry, with Lescott cutting the ball back across the six-yard box where Toure was waiting to power the ball into the net.

And three minutes later a wonderful team move saw City cut Burnley's defence wide open, with Stephen Ireland releasing Wright-Phillips on the right and the winger's first-time cross running straight to Bellamy, who made no mistake in smashing the ball past Jensen into the right corner.

As the final whistle approached Burnley seemed out of ideas and destined to lose, but two minutes from time substitute David Nugent delivered a perfect ball from the right to Fletcher, who chested the ball down into the path of McDonald to set up the late equaliser.

Toby Keel / Eurosport

Comment 90 - 109 of 109

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated
  1. man city should spend another 400M to buy of other­ squad so they could be in the top 4? nahhhh... no way

    From john t, on Mon 9 Nov 10:13AM
  2. SACK MARK HUGHES THE MORON !!!!!!!

    From Issac, on Sun 8 Nov 3:13PM
  3. city ~ top four? hahahaahahah.. r u kidding me?????

    From wan ahmad khairi, on Sun 8 Nov 1:32PM
  4. one of the best games of footy ive seen in a long time,­ well done both teams.

    From Daryl, on Sun 8 Nov 12:18PM
  5. HUGHES GREAT FOOTBALLER. RUBISH MANAGER, SHOCKING­ DEFENCE THEY WILL BE LUCKY TO FINSISH HALFWAY.

    From John L, on Sun 8 Nov 11:21AM
  6. the ref was appalling as usual

    i watched the swansea­ v cardiff game in the championship and the ref should­ have got man of the match according to the the­ commentators and i had to agree with them, he was­ outstanding, whats the problem with prem refs ??????

    From bryanshaw68, on Sun 8 Nov 8:30AM
  7. This is CITY who are about to break into the top­ four?
    Well had there been an half decent referee City­ would have lost, very poor indeed, Spent $200 or­ $200million, difficut to tell.

    From Alan, on Sun 8 Nov 5:08AM
  8. OK Which Manchester team owns its ground and pays tax­ to Manchester Town Hall?

    Answer ...None

    United pay­ to Salford

    And Manchester Town Hall own City's­ ground.

    From Terrence, on Sun 8 Nov 3:31AM
  9. Great game, Burnley are definitely up for every game­ they are in !

    From ispurs, on Sun 8 Nov 12:10AM
  10. bring back Richard Dunne Lescott is a @#$%

    From robclarkson, on Sat 7 Nov 11:43PM
  11. Bring back Dunne he shud ave not been sold and get Sven­ back cos he shuldnt ave been sacked

    From robclarkson, on Sat 7 Nov 11:35PM
  12. bring back richard dunne and sven sack mark hughes

    From robclarkson, on Sat 7 Nov 11:31PM
  13. Great to see Alexander playing at this level again.

    From Delberto Gooner, on Sat 7 Nov 10:41PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OM A TIN OF SPAM

    From LEEROY, on Sat 7 Nov 9:51PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OM A TIN OF SPAM

    From LEEROY, on Sat 7 Nov 9:51PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OM A TIN OF SPAM

    From LEEROY, on Sat 7 Nov 9:51PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OM A TIN OF SPAM

    From LEEROY, on Sat 7 Nov 9:51PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OM A TIN OF SPAM

    From LEEROY, on Sat 7 Nov 9:51PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OM A SPAMMER

    From LEEROY, on Sat 7 Nov 9:39PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OM A SPAMMER

    From LEEROY, on Sat 7 Nov 9:39PM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account