Mario Balotelli had a bit of a temper tantrum after being replaced by Carlos Tevez after Patrick Vieira put the home side 2-0 ahead, but he's just about the only person in the world who thinks that he's more deserving of a place on the pitch than Carlos Tevez. There are less than five minutes of the ninety remaining and the Argentine forward has just put the game totally out of reach for visiting Notts County, who certainly don't deserve a 3-0 scoreline after their efforts this match. Unfortunately, that's exactly what they're going to get after Tevez surged onto a through pass by Edin Dzeko, rounded Stuart Nelson and rolled the ball rather gently into the net.
Manchester City Vs. Notts County: Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko, Micah Richards Score, Make it 5-0 City At Full Time
If that didn't kill off the tie, Dzeko's goal in the 88th minute certainly has. Gareth Barry pinged the ball out to Carlos Tevez, who drew Nelson out of his net and then floated a cross to the Bosnian, who nodded into an empty net to make it 4-0, a massively flattering scoreline. And then in injury time, Micah Richards got another to make it five*, and then Edin Dzeko failed to convert a one on one with Nelson which would have made the score a rather improbable 6-0.
*It was a really pretty hooking finish from the right back, too.
It would be remiss of us to fail to mention Alan Gow's spectacular volley when the score was still 2-0, drawing an equally good save from Joe Hart after flicking the ball up with his right foot and smashing goalwards from 25 yards. England's number one was well up to the task, however, beating the ball away for a corner. For a little while it looked as though Notts County were about to haul themselves back into the match, but three City goals in ten minutes made something of a mockery of the scoreline.
Before the goal onslaught, City had gone 2-0 ahead after Patrick Vieira had twice nodded home from corners, but Notts County had the edge in open play, hitting the post with the score level and generally giving a fantastic account of themselves. 5-0 is a completely bizarre scoreline considering the game itself, but County will leave Eastlands with their heads held high.
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