Manchester City claimed victory over Rochdale in the Manchester Senior Cup on Wednesday night with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory at Ewen Fields, after a very entertaining game ended 2-2 after normal time.
Joe Bunney and Joel Logan netted for Dale, while City forward Jordy Hiwula scored the two goals for the home side.
Rochdale named a strong eleven against a City side who could boast players such as Dedryck Boyata, Martin DeMichelis and one time England international Jack Rodwell.
The opening exchanges of the game saw Manchester City seeing plenty of ball without causing Rochdale many problems with Demichelis in particular seeing plenty of the ball. As the half went on Rochdale grew into the game with Joel Logan having one or two threatening runs.
Dale had Javan Vidal to thank for keeping the score level early on, when Rodwell found himself in space in the box only for Vidal to throw his body on the line to block the shot.
Rochdale’s first opportunity fell to Logan after he had been put throw by Bastin Henry however he could not beat the city keeper as he parried logans shot behind for a corner.
On the 21st minute the deadlock was broken when Albert Rusnak found himself through on goal, rounded the onrushing Robbie Thomson and squared the ball to Jordy Hiwula who had the simple task of putting the ball into an empty net.
Rochdale responded well and could have found themselves level when Rhys Bennett found himself unmarked in the box from a corner, but the defender could not direct his header on target.
City should have doubled their lead when Dale keeper Thomson was dispossessed by Hiwula, who managed to pick out George Glendon but he failed to capitalise on the opportunity and put his effort over the ball with three dale players on the line.
Dale’s George Donnelly saw two of his efforts go over the cross bar as Rochdale tried to get back on level terms before half time.
HT: CITY 1-0 ROCHDALE
The first chance of the second half fell to Donnelly, who fired his left footed shot wide from the edge of the box after some good work from Logan.
On the 59th minute Rochdale drew level when Rhys Bennett’s driving run saw him slip Joe Bunney through on goal, who made no mistake with a low driving shot past the City ‘keeper – a goal which Dale fully deserved.
Rochdale were beginning to dominate procedures and only for the legs of the city ‘keeper denying Vidal’s effort it would have been a second for Dale.
Rochdale didn’t have to wait long for that second goal, which came on the 67th minute when Joe Bunny this time sent Joel Logan through on goal and he managed to find the bottom corner of the net.
However, Rochdale could not hold onto the lead for long, when just five minutes later City drew level and it was a case of deja vu as Rusnak found Hiwula in the box, for the City forward to head home his second of the game.
Andrew Tutte had a late effort for Dale but his effort sailed over the bar, bringing the game to a close and sending it to penalties to be decided.
Man City emerged victorious on penalties with the winning penalty scored by Albert Rusnak after Rodwell had missed for City. Tutte and Matthew Done missed for the Dale.
Rochdale: (3-4-3) Robbie Thomson, Rhys Bennett, Ashley Eastham©, Darcy O’Connor, Javon Vidal, Bastien Henry, Andrew Tutte, Matthew Done, Joe Bunny (Godwin Abadki, 67), George Donnelly, Joel Logan