Manchester City 3 - 3 Sunderland: City rally a little too late

MANCHESTER City dropped two potentially vital points in the Barclays Premier League title race despite a rousing late fightback against Sunderland.

Mario Balotelli’s second goal of the afternoon and a powerful Aleksandar Kolarov strike inside the last five minutes at the Etihad Stadium earned City a draw but it was not enough to take them back top.

Sunderland had powered into a 3-1 lead with two goals from Sebastian Larsson and a fine header from Nicklas Bendtner. From that position, City would ordinarily have been pleased with a draw – which preserved their unbeaten home record – but arch-rivals Manchester United now have a huge advantage and could go five points clear tomorrow.

Some City unrest was seen as Balotelli and Yaya Toure were involved in animated discussions as play was stopped for an injury to Micah Richards.

Sunderland had a good chance to go ahead as Stephane Sessegnon was twice involved in a sweeping move, but Craig Gardner’s shot into the side netting. City responded as Edin Dzeko tested Simon Mignolet and Vincent Kompany scuffed a shot wide from the resulting corner but Sunderland remained just as likely scorers. James McClean turned on the edge of the area to shoot narrowly wide and Bendtner then had an effort blocked before the visitors deservedly went ahead on the half hour. Larsson did the damage with a superb finish from the edge of the area, beating Joe Hart with a low shot into the bottom corner.

City got back into the game from the penalty spot after Phil Dowd controversially ruled Gardner had upended Dzeko, Balotelli keeping his cool to level. Sunderland then reclaimed the lead in first-half injury time. Bendtner made no mistake as he planted a firm header past Hart from a Sessegnon cross.

City needed to respond but it was Sunderland who continued to force the pace in the early stages of the second half. Yaya Toure, weary after a heavy tackle, was beaten to the ball inside his own half as Sessegnon launched the attack which led to Sunderland’s third. Bendtner raced into space down the right and played a low ball into the box for Larsson, who timed his run perfectly to slide in at the far post.

City manager Roberto Mancini’s response was to send on Carlos Tevez for David Silva and the hosts spurned a chance moments later as Kolo Toure headed over. City won a free-kick after Kolarov went down on the edge of the area and frustrations boiled over as the hosts could not decide who should take it. Balotelli reacted unhappily when Tevez lined up behind the ball. Nigel de Jong had to push the Italian away and in the end it was Kolarov who took it, curling a shot wide.

Balotelli reduced the arrears with a fine goal five minutes from time as he came in from the left and ran across the edge of the box to beat Simon Mignolet from distance. Substitute David Pizarro then rolled the ball wide for Kolarov to smash home, but despite some frantic late scenes, City could not claim a winner.