Filed under: Birmingham, Manchester City, Carling Cup, Football, Match Reports
Owen Hargreaves marked his second start in three years by scoring a goal just 16 minutes into his Manchester City debut.The midfielder, who has been plagued by knee problems, made the shock move to the Etihad Stadium from neighbours United in the summer but wasted little time in firing in from 25 yards for his first goal since April 2008 before going off after just under an hour.
Mario Balotelli added a second as City progressed comfortably, with Kolo Toure making his first appearance in seven months after a drugs ban.
THE GOALS
17 mins: Hargreaves received a loose ball on the edge of the area and finds the top corner from 25 yards. (1-0)
38 mins: Wayne Bridge knocks the ball wide and Aleksander Kolarov's first-time cross is swept in by Balotelli. (2-0)
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
4 mins: Pablo Zabaleta shoots wide from a Bridge cross.
7 mins: Balotelli has a shot from just outside the area saved by Colin Doyle.
23 mins: Bridge has an effort deflected wide from just outside the area.
35 mins: Curtis Davies has an overhead kick hacked off the line by Toure from Jean Beausejour's free kick.
37 mins: Zabaleta shoots wide from 20 yards after a quick City breakaway.
54 mins: David Murphy's cross gives Stefan Savic a nervous moment before goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon gathers.
58 mins: Pantilimon turns away a low effort from Guirane N'Daw.
61 mins: Balotelli curls a shot just over from the edge of the area.
70 mins: Carlos Tevez beats the wall with a curling free kick only to see the ball fly past the far post.
85 mins: Tevez breaks quickly but shoots straight at Doyle.
MANCHESTER CITY 2 (Hargreaves 17, Balotelli 38) BIRMINGHAM 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Manchester City (4-4-2): Pantilimon 7; Onuoha 8, Savic 7, K Toure 7, Kolarov 8; Zabaleta 8, Hargreaves 8 (Milner 57, 6), Razak 7 (Scapuzzi 87, 6), Bridge 7 (Rekik 79, 6); Tevez 6, Balotelli 8.
Subs (not used): Taylor, Clichy, Suarez, Aguero.
Birmingham (4-1-4-1): Doyle 6; Spector 7, Ibanez 6, Davies 7, Murphy 7; N'Daw7; Burke 5, Fahey 6 (Gomis 67, 6), Beausejour 6, Redmond 6 (King 78, 6); Rooney 5 (Zigic 67, 6).
Subs (not used): Myhill, Caldwell, Asante, Jervis.
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