city in ruthless mood published: thursday 14 august 2003, 23.04cet manchester city fc 5-0 total network solutions fc welsh minnows are overwhelmed by second-half spree.
english premiership side manchester city achieved an ultimately emphatic 5-0 victory over welsh visitors total network solutions fc in their first competitive game at their new city of manchester stadium.
all-british meeting although city, playing in their first european tie in 24 years, were in front from the 14th minute it was not until the second half that the floodgates really opened in this eagerly awaited all-british meeting in the uefa cup qualifying round.
sinclair on target city could have been more than one goal ahead at half-time despite tns's industrious efforts to keep them at bay. shaun wright-phillips shot wide with only goalkeeper gerard doherty to beat before the home side went in front when tns failed to clear a 14th-minute corner, and england midfield player trevor sinclair chipped the ball into the net.
doherty saves doherty excelled in saving a wright-phillips shot after 27 minutes, and the only tns effort on goal in the first half saw john leah blast a long-range effort wide.
sun shines tns launched several attacks at the start of the second half, but their sudden confidence was short-lived, because wright-phillips soon increased city's lead with a 25-metre strike. on the hour, robbie fowler fired in a cross and jihai sun made no mistake with a header for the third.
five in the bag the welsh part-timers were now beginning to tire, and david sommeil struck the fourth goal after doherty was caught napping from a corner. the fifth goal came with three minutes left on the clock, french international nicolas anelka scoring.
