Manuel Pellegrini won his first trophy as Manchester City manager as his side came from behind to beat Sunderland 3—1 at Wembley on Sunday.
Fabio Borini put Sunderland ahead after 10 minutes and for the rest of the first half it seemed a major upset was possible.
But Yaya Toure stroked in a brilliant 25—yarder to level nine minutes after half—time and three minutes later Samir Nasri fired in with the outside of his right foot from just inside the box.
Sunderland rallied, but despite a series of crosses and corners, it was City who got the fourth goal of the game, Toure leading a break and laying in Jesus Navas to score.
City enjoyed all the early pressure and Vito Mannone was called into a diving save from Samir Nasri, but it was Sunderland who took the lead after 10 minutes.
Lee Cattermole disposed Fernandinho and worked the ball right to Adam Johnson, who clipped a superb ball down the line for Borini.
The Italian bustled by Vincent Kompany and Martin Demiches and smacked in a superb finish with the outside of his right foot.
With City strangely flat, it seemed possible, Sunderland might hold out, but it was undone by two moments of individual brilliance in the second half.
Toure had been quiet all game, generally outscrapped by Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson but, nine minutes into the second half, he lazily wafted a shot into the top corner.
Three minutes later, City had the lead, Aleksandar Kolarov’s cross being deflected into the oath of Samir Nasri, who scored with a brilliant finish.
Sunderland battled back, and created a handful of half chances, Steven Fletcher twice missing his shot at key moments, but as legs wearied, City wrapped the game up on the break in the final minute, Jesus Navas firing in Toure’s pass.
Sunderland had fought hard, and deserved great credit, but in the end individual quality told.
