Ranking Manchester City's Top 10 Goals of 2014
Manchester City had a wonderful 2014, including a League Cup final win over Sunderland and a Premier League title win in May as they overhauled Liverpool in a tense final few weeks.
Manuel Pellegrini must take much of the credit, implementing a new, free-flowing style of play, which has led to remarkable football being played and goals of real quality scored.
Which is why picking 10 of the best from 2014 is such a tough task. City have scored a barrage, with so many of them aesthetically pleasing and of huge significance.
Here, we attempt to rank the top 10, based on each goal's quality and importance to City’s success. Feel free to use the comment section below to make further suggestions.
10. Alvaro Negredo vs. West Ham
1 of 10
With City still at their attacking best as they went into their League Cup semi-final with West Ham back in January, their 6-0 first-leg win was hardly a surprise.
Alvaro Negredo, who was irresistible at that stage of the season, opened the scoring with a volley after a long ball had drifted over his left shoulder.
It was further demonstration of his—at times—outstanding technique and set City on their way to a final at Wembley.
9. Edin Dzeko vs. Manchester United
2 of 10
It may have been a tap-in, but Edin Dzeko's opener at Old Trafford in City's 3-0 win back in March—their third clear-cut chance inside the opening minute—was symbolically significant.
For years, City had been the bridesmaids in Manchester, in the shadow of their more illustrious neighbours. All that has changed in recent seasons as City have established themselves as the dominant Manchester side, and the ease with which they destroyed United on their own patch last season was a real marker of that swing in supremacy.
City outpassed and outplayed United, and Dzeko's goal came before United had even put a move of any note together.
8. David Silva vs. Hull
3 of 10
With City down to 10 men after the dismissal of Vincent Kompany, and with their title hopes hanging by a thread, their 2-0 win at Hull is now seen in retrospect as a key result in their Premier League win.
It was the turnaround moment—a win that halted some patchy results and saw a number of players hit form for the first time. David Silva was the orchestrator, and he hit the first—a beautiful, bending shot that flew into the top corner of the net.
7. Dzeko vs. Crystal Palace
4 of 10
With the title race thrown back into City’s hands after Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield moments before kick-off at Selhurst Park, this, it felt, was a key day in determining where the Premier League trophy would end up.
There was a carnival atmosphere in the away end before the game began as news of Chelsea’s win filtered through, but an air of nervousness still pervaded. Four minutes in, though, any nerves dissipated as Dzeko headed home his fifth goal in eight games and his 24th of the season in total.
It was in that moment that many began to really believe the title was City’s, and, for that, it has to be included in the club’s top 10 goals of 2014.
City went on to win 2-0, moving three points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand and a superior goal difference.
6. Yaya Toure vs. Aston Villa
5 of 10
In terms of quality, very few goals on this list can compete with the one Yaya Toure produced against Villa in the penultimate match of the season as City inched closer to the title.
With his side 3-0 up and cruising, Toure picked up the ball deep inside his own half, burst towards goal and left a trail of defenders in his wake before blasting past Brad Guzan.
It was the icing on the cake rather than a goal of importance, but it was beautiful and exhilarating, nonetheless.
5. Dzeko vs. Everton
6 of 10
With the title City’s if they could win all of their remaining games, and with Aston Villa and West Ham set to visit the Etihad in the final two fixtures, City’s trip to Everton was seen by many as the crucial match in determining whether they would win the title.
The nerves in the away end were palpable, but after falling behind early on to a wonder goal from Ross Barkley, Sergio Aguero had brought them back on to level terms.
Dzeko then put them in front with a brilliant header, before scoring again to give his side some breathing space.
The 3-2 win edged City towards their second title in three seasons, and the quality of Dzeko’s header, which went largely unnoticed at the time, was superb.
4. Aguero vs. Bayern Munich
7 of 10
City have had trouble with the Champions League since they entered the competition in 2012, often lacking belief that they belong at the top table of European football, despite boasting a squad of real quality.
After a series of disappointing results and performances, and with their Champions League status hanging in the balance during the group stage of this year’s competition, it was felt they—the club, the players and the fans—needed a magical moment to fall in love with the tournament—a defining result to announce they had arrived.
They may have been outplayed for much of the match with 10-man Bayern Munich at home back in November, but a late, late double from Aguero saw them snatch a 3-2 win that kept their qualification hopes alive. This was the moment they had been waiting for.
The calmness with which he slid the ball past Manuel Neuer for the winner, after capitalising on a mistake by Jerome Boateng, was breathtaking, and City, after looking dead and buried for so much of the group stage, were in with a chance going into Matchday 6.
3. Samir Nasri vs. Roma
8 of 10
And it was on Matchday 6 in Rome when City gave their first truly comprehensive European performance since their debut in the competition in 2012.
A 2-0 win over Roma, completed in style, confirmed their passage to the last 16 for the second consecutive season, setting up a knock-out stage encounter with Barcelona, for the second consecutive season.
Samir Nasri was superb all game, and his goal, an explosive strike that flew in off the post to put City 1-0 up, settled any nerves and confirmed his side’s dominance. It was a goal of brilliance and importance.
2. Toure vs. Sunderland
9 of 10
With City trailing 1-0 in the League Cup final against Sunderland and playing bereft of freedom and creativity, Toure produced a moment of genius—a first-time, right-footed strike from 35 yards that flew into the top corner past Vito Mannone to bring City level.
It changed the whole complexion of the match—a goal of such remarkable quality, out of absolutely nothing, that signaled a shift in momentum and led to Pellegrini’s first major trophy as a manager.
1. Nasri vs. Sunderland
10 of 10
And seconds later, Nasri put City 2-1 ahead with another first-time strike, this time an outside-of-the-boot effort from the edge of the area that left Mannone with no chance.
Two wonderful goals in the space of 90 seconds swung the game in City’s favour and saw them land a piece of silverware. It brought the winning feeling back to City after a trophy-less season the year before and was vital in providing the confidence and belief harnessed during the title run in.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
