Elan puts finishing touch to glittering performance by City

The home supporters left the City of Manchester Stadium knowing that Eriksson's hastily assembled team is no flash in the pan — just flash.

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce had defended Eriksson's record before the game and was left realising just how right he was to do so, even though his own team took the lead.

After years of trying with England, the enigmatic Swede has finally created a football team that are even more colourful and free spirited than his private life.

And when man-ofthe- match Elano unleashed an unstoppable free-kick from 35 yards which reduced Shay Given to an irrelevance on his line, you knew that it really had been just like watching Brazil.

Eriksson chuckled, accepted high fives from his backroom staff, waved at the crowd without even being asked — and warned his rivals that high-flying City are only going to get better.

The former England manager, who has not heard his name chanted so fervently since he won the Italian title with Lazio, claimed: "My players should get better and better now because they are young and hungry and all the new players love the Premier League. They will play and train together more and more and they are already speaking English to each other.

"I'm happy with the way we handled everything and to see Elano take a free-kick like that — well, you cannot hit one much better. It is impossible. That was absolutely incredible, so congratulations to him. He deserved the man of the match award."

Just as City hoped it would, Eriksson's vast network of contacts in world football paid off when they signed the 26-year-old from Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine. And he checked with Elano's international manager — Dunga — before making his move.

Eriksson said: "I used to have Dunga as a player when I was manager of Fiorentina and I know him well, so I was able to ask his opinion."

No-one was left in any doubt that the scorer of City's third goal is a glittering addition to a side who played yesterday like football's answer to the Harlem Globetrotters.

Against the run of play, however, it was Newcastle who provided the first touch of magic in a game played almost like an exhibition match, with entertainment seeming to be the only priority.

United striker Obafemi Martins collected a long pass from his captain Geremi and his second touch was a delightful chip beyond Joe Hart. In reply, the excellent Martin Petrov found a fitting reward for his far-post run when he tapped in Stephen Ireland's pinpoint pass.

Just after half time, Petrov's brilliant burst down the left preceded an inviting cross for Emile Mpenza. The City striker's spectacular diving header sent Given the wrong way and set the scene for Elano's glorious third goal.

Newcastle manager Allardyce said: "We committed defensive suicide."

MAN CITY (4-1-4-1): Hart; Garrido, Dunne, Richards, Corluka (Onuoha 57min); Hamann; Petrov, Johnson (Ball 86), Elano(Geovanni 89), Ireland; Mpenza. Subs (not used): Schmeichel, Samaras.

NEWCASTLE (4-1-3-2): Given; N'Zogbia, Rozehnal, Taylor (Faye 84), Beye; Butt; Smith, Geremi (Enrique 76), Milner; Martins, Viduka (Emre 88). Subs (not used): Harper, Pattison.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).