CAPITAL ONE (FA CUP) Manchester City 3 - 1 Sunderland

Date: Sunday, 2nd March
Kick off: 14:00

Venue: Wembley

Key events
SunderlandGoal
Borini 10' Goal

Manchester CityGoal
Yaya Touré 55'
Manchester CityGoal
Nasri 56'
Manchester CityGoal
Jesús Navas 90'

Close Match details

Manuel Pellegrini secured his first trophy as Manchester City manager as they staged a second-half revival to beat Sunderland and win the Capital One Cup at Wembley.

Sunderland - seeking their first major trophy since the famous 1973 FA Cup win against Leeds United - deservedly led at half-time through Fabio Borini's fine angled strike after 10 minutes.
This entertaining final turned inside two minutes just after half-time as City struck twice to finally exert their authority over Sunderland, who had dominated until that point and gave a fine performance throughout.
Yaya Toure equalised with a brilliant instant finish from 25 yards in the 55th minute, before Samir Nasri's spectacular strike changed the entire course of the game and set City on the way to some sort of consolation for last May's shock FA Cup final defeat by Wigan Athletic.

Substitute Jesus Navas added a third in the final minute to give the scoreline a harsh appearance given the manner in which the Black Cats had matched City for so long.

The Capital One Cup may not be at the top of Pellegrini's list of priorities, but this first trophy will be welcomed by the Chilean, who was appointed last summer.

City's focus now turns to the Premier League title, the arduous task of overturning a two-goal deficit in their Champions League last-16 tie against Barcelona and an FA Cup quarter-final clash with Wigan Athletic.

As for Sunderland, this will be a bitter disappointment for manager Gus Poyet, his players and the magnificent support who splashed their famous red and white stripes around Wembley - but they can take great confidence from a Cup run that claimed the scalps of Chelsea and Manchester United, as they attempt to stay in the top flight.
Pellegrini preferred Costel Pantilimon to Joe Hart in goal but the big lift came as he was able to recall striker Sergio Aguero after a month out with a hamstring injury.

City's confident start was no indication of what was to come as Sunderland's sheer passion - and plenty of quality, it should be stressed - reduced the favourites to a shambles on occasions during the first half.

Poyet plumped for the speed and mobility of Borini, ahead of the physical power of Steven Fletcher and Jozy Altidore, to put pressure on City's central-defensive pairing of Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis.

And it produced the perfect reward after only 10 minutes when Italy striker Borini got the better of Kompany in the chase for Adam Johnson's pass, shrugging him aside before showing great composure to sweep a finish past Pantilimon with the outside of his right foot.

The goal shook City and Sunderland threatened to take further advantage, Borini's shot from the edge of the area deflecting just over off the back of Edin Dzeko and Wes Brown heading off target from a corner.

Borini, on loan from Liverpool, stretched City again and threatened to add a second as he raced clear but this time Kompany made amends by making a crucial tackle as he recovered his ground on the Italian.

City's response was muted, and sometimes not even as good as that, with Sunderland keeper Vito Mannone's only worry coming when he had to deal with Aguero's low 20-yard shot.

It was inevitable that Pellegrini would shake up his sleeping side at half-time - making the opening phase of the second half even more crucial to the outcome of the game.

And so it proved as City showed their quality with two goals of the highest calibre inside two minutes to change the mood inside Wembley and the match itself.

Toure had been a peripheral figure until he collected Pablo Zabaleta's pass 25 yards out after 55 minutes and the Ivory Coast midfielder, almost nonchalantly, lifted a spectacular finish over Mannone into the top corner.
The element of surprise caught the goalkeeper just too far off his line but it would be harsh in the extreme to attach any blame to the Italian.
He was powerless again as France international Nasri struck almost immediately to put City in front, taking Aleksandar Kolarov's cross in his stride to score with the outside of his foot with Mannone motionless.

Pellegrini immediately sent on Navas for Aguero and it was not long before Poyet made a double substitution, bringing on Fletcher and Craig Gardner for Johnson and Seb Larsson.
Just as stoppage time was about to start, substitute Fletcher wasted a chance with poor control. It was to prove the final moment of hope for Sunderland.

As they pressed for the equaliser, City caught Sunderland on the break and Toure swept forward to set up Spain winger Navas for the goal that finally decided the destination of the trophy.
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Ukraine crisis: Britain pulls out of G8 preparatory talks

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague: "The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine has been violated"
The UK has pulled out of preparatory talks for the G8 summit because of Russia's build-up of troops in the Ukrainian region of Crimea.

The summit is due to be hosted by Russia in the city of Sochi.

Prime Minister David Cameron said British ministers would also now not attend the Paralympic Games in Sochi.

The decisions were announced as Foreign Secretary William Hague flew to Kiev for talks with Ukraine's new leaders, amid rising tension with Russia.

Ukrainian acting president Olexander Turchynov has ordered a full mobilisation of Ukrainian military forces.

Mr Hague has said he will reiterate UK support for Ukraine's sovereignty.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister remains gravely concerned about events in Ukraine and is determined to pursue all avenues to reduce tensions and de-escalate a very dangerous situation."

The spokesman said Mr Cameron would speak about the situation to US President Barack Obama, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite on Sunday evening.

He said Mr Cameron remained "fully supportive of our Paralympic athletes' participation at Sochi".

Before leaving for Kiev, Mr Hague said: "We have to recognise the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine has been violated and this cannot be the way to conduct international affairs.

"And so, in addition to calling yesterday's emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom will join other G8 countries this week in suspending our co-operation under the G8, which Russia chairs this year, including the meetings this week for the preparation of the G8 summit."

He said Britain would keep its approach to further G8 meetings under review.

In Brussels, Nato held emergency talks about Russia's move to take control of Crimea.

Just before the meeting, Nato secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Russia's troop deployments violated the principles of the United Nations charter and threatened peace and security in Europe.

"Russia must stop its military activities and its threats," he said.

British-based Ukrainians staged a protest outside Russia's embassy in London

The protest was occasionally noisy but remained peaceful

Some protesters aimed their criticism at President Putin personally
The Ukrainian government has said it will seek the help of US and UK leaders to guarantee its security.

The interim prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said Russia's military moves amounted to a "declaration of war".

On Saturday, President Obama held a 90-minute telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged him to pull his forces back to bases in Crimea.

Mr Putin says Russia reserves the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers in Ukraine.

The Foreign Office says Mr Hague will make clear the UK's support for Ukraine's new government, which was formed after the ousting of former president Viktor Yanukovych in a popular uprising last month.

His removal from power followed four months of street protests that culminated in bloody clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

On Saturday, Mr Hague said the UK would work with international partners to "ensure that reforms by Ukraine are matched by international willingness to provide economic support".

He said Britain would also help Ukraine recover corruptly acquired assets.

BBC world affairs correspondent Emily Buchanan said Mr Hague was likely to urge the Ukrainian government not to do anything to provoke Russia, in order not to give Moscow a pretext for further military action.

Mr Hague said it was also important that Russia spoke to the Ukrainian authorities directly.

Russia, which rejects the legitimacy of Ukraine's new leaders, has so far refused to do so.

Former Conservative foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said the situation was the "most serious crisis since the end of the Cold War".

"This needs to be a defining moment and Putin needs to understand this... in the West's relationship with Russia," he said.

A former British ambassador to Moscow, Sir Tony Brenton, said Mr Hague must "damp down" the tension between Russia and Ukraine.

He said: "[President Putin] has just seen his man, in effect, [Viktor] Yanukovych, overthrown by what he sees as a Western instigated revolt. He [Putin] is determined to maintain Russian influence in Ukraine as a whole, and he has now taken Crimea... hostage."

Former British ambassador in Moscow, Sir Tony Brenton, says Crimea has been "taken hostage" by President Putin
Labour leader Ed Miliband said there could be "no justification" for Russian military action in Ukraine.

"I believe diplomatic and economic pressure we can put on Russia is the best hope we can have for what everyone wants to see, which is the de-escalation of this crisis," he said.

In London, hundreds of Ukrainians staged a protest near the Russian embassy.

The demonstrators chanted slogans and held up banners that said "Hands off Ukraine". Similar protests were held in other European capitals.

The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Crimea, and urging British nationals in Crimea to leave.

It said train and bus routes out of the peninsula were still operating, but it did not advise British nationals to try to leave by air from Simferopol until the situation had become more stable.
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China separatists blamed for Kunming knife rampage

Hospitals in Kunming were inundated with the wounded.

Chinese officials have blamed separatists from the north-western Xinjiang region for a mass knife attack at a railway station that left 29 people dead and at least 130 wounded.

A group of attackers, dressed in black, burst into the station in the south-west city of Kunming and began stabbing people at random.

Images from the scene posted online showed bodies lying in pools of blood.

State news agency Xinhua said police shot at least four suspects dead.

A female suspect was arrested and is being treated in hospital for unspecified injuries while a search continues for others who fled the scene, the BBC's Celia Hatton in Beijing reports.

Authorities described the incident as an "organised, premeditated, violent terrorist attack".

There were scenes of shock and anguish after the attack

Evidence of the panic that ensued is scattered across the concourse
The Kunming city government later said that evidence from the scene pointed to separatists from Xinjiang as being behind the attack.

It gave no details and the claim could not be verified.

Some of Xinjiang's minority Uighur Muslims want autonomy from Chinese rule and an end to state suppression of their religion.

Witnesses in Kunming said those who couldn't run quickly were cut down by the attackers' knives.

A survivor named Yang Haifei, who was wounded in the back and chest, told Xinhua he had been buying a train ticket when the attackers rushed into the station.

"I saw a person come straight at me with a long knife and I ran away with everyone," he said.

First reports said the attackers were only men, but witnesses and police later said the group also included women.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang sent condolences to the victims and their families.

President Xi urged "all-out efforts" to investigate the attack.

"Severely punish in accordance with the law the violent terrorists and resolutely crack down on those who have been swollen with arrogance," Xinhua quoted the president as saying.

The incident comes a few days before the opening of China's annual parliamentary session, the National People's Congress.

Our correspondent says domestic security is expected to top the agenda.

Last October China blamed Xinjiang separatists when a car was driven into a crowd of people on the edge of Beijing's Tiananamen Square, leaving five dead.
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E-fit released after Bishop's Stortford girl abducted and raped

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the suspect to come forward.

Police are hunting for a man who raped a 14-year-old girl from Hertfordshire while holding her prisoner for nearly 12 hours overnight.

The girl was forced into a vehicle in Bishop's Stortford at about 20:30 GMT on 16 February and dropped off near the town's railway station the following morning.

An E-fit image of the attacker has now been released.

Police said the attack had caused "concern within the community".

The girl was forced into a dark-coloured vehicle, thought to be a Land Rover, and taken to an unknown location, believed to be outside the county of Hertfordshire, where she was sexually assaulted.

Ch Insp Gerry McDonald of Hertfordshire Police said: "I believe local people hold the key to our investigation.

"This is an extremely serious matter and one which, understandably, has caused concern within the community.

"We have conducted a number of inquiries in the local area but would ask anyone who was around between the times mentioned and who has not yet spoken to police to contact us if you have any information which may assist our investigation.

"I would like to reiterate that this is an unusual incident and would reassure everyone that investigations into this incident are a priority."
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Darts player Bryan Whyte killed in A82 crash near Torlundy

Bryan Whyte was a top darts player who was to represent Scotland.

A driver who died in a crash on the A82 in the Highlands was a top darts player who had been called up recently to represent Scotland.

Bryan Whyte, 34, a mechanic from Spean Bridge, died after his car was involved in a collision with a pick-up van near Torlundy at about 14:40 on Friday.

Tributes have been paid to him on darts websites.

Jim MacNeil, secretary of the Highland Darts Association, described him as a "true great in our game".

Mr Whyte had recently been named in the Scotland darts squad for 2014/2015.

On the Scottish Darts Association website, chairman Len Mutch said: "It is my sad duty to inform you Bryan Whyte, newly selected for Scotland, was tragically killed in a car crash. Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.

In a statement posted online, Mr MacNeil said: "Highland Darts and Scotland at large have lost a true gentleman this week in tragic circumstances.

"Bryan Whyte was a true great in our game and a gentleman and great friend to all who met him.

"In all the teams that Bryan played for his humour, honesty and integrity shone through and he endeared himself to everyone he met. He has been taken from us far too early but will always remain in our hearts. We will never forget him."

The driver of the Ford transit pick-up involved in the crash was taken to hospital but was not thought to have been seriously injured. Police have appealed for witnesses.
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Bedfordshire Police monitor Meppershall illegal rave

About 700 people are thought to have attended an illegal rave in Bedfordshire overnight.

Police were called to a barn off Stondon Road in Meppershall at about 02:30 GMT.

Officers prevented one van with a generator and music equipment reaching the site, although one other managed to get through, a spokesman said.

The police helicopter was deployed but no arrests have been made as yet. About 150 people are still at the site.
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Oscars: Gravity eyes prizes as countdown begins

The final countdown to the Oscars has begun, with space thriller Gravity expected to scoop multiple awards at Sunday's ceremony in Los Angeles.

The 3D film is likely to dominate the technical categories, with Alfonso Cuaron tipped for best director.

But Oscar watchers have predicted British director Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave to win best picture.

The 86th Academy Awards, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, take place at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre.

Outside the venue, a section of Hollywood Boulevard has been sealed off and the red carpet is covered over to protect it from an unusual spell of wet weather.

The final round of voting by the Academy's 6,028 members ended on Tuesday.

Many of the nominees have been attending a flurry of pre-Oscar events and screenings in and around Los Angeles.

In what is considered to be the strongest field for many years there are nine contenders for best picture.

Gravity and David O Russell's crime caper American Hustle lead with 10 nominations each. 12 Years a Slave has nine.

Ellen DeGeneres is hosting the Oscars for the second time
Predicting the best picture winner, The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg said: "In a very close contest, 12 Years a Slave, though difficult to watch, gets the edge because, like many winners before it, it's an adaptation of revered material, based on a true story about historical events that remain socially relevant."

He said that, while the preferential ballot system could boost the prospects of American Hustle and Gravity, 12 Years a Slave felt more "important" than 3D science-fiction.

12 Years a Slave's nine nominations include best director for McQueen.

The historical drama, about a free black man in New York kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana, is in a strong position, having already won a Golden Globe and a Bafta.

Its stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o have been nominated in the best actor, supporting actor and supporting actress categories.

American Hustle has nods in all four acting categories for its stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.

Russell pulled off the same feat with with Silver Linings Playbook last year. Lawrence went on to win best actress.

British film Philomena, based on the true story of an Irish woman trying to find the son she was forced to give up for adoption, is up for four awards, including best picture and best actress for Dame Judi Dench.

Captain Phillips, 12 Years a Slave, Nebraska, The Wolf of Wall Street, Dallas Buyers Club and Her are also among the nine best picture nominees.

There are several clear favourites in the major acting categories.

Cate Blanchett, who plays a fallen New York socialite in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, has been the runaway favourite for best actress for months.

But she faces strong competition from Dame Judi, American Hustle's Adams, Gravity's Sandra Bullock, and Meryl Streep - who has her 18th Oscar nomination - for August: Osage County.

Having both missed out on Bafta nominations, Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto - from Aids drama Dallas Buyers Club - are favourites for best actor and supporting actor respectively.

The tightest race seems to be for best supporting actress, where 12 Years A Slave's Nyong'o - making her movie debut - is up against Jennifer Lawrence who won a Bafta for her American Hustle role.

Also in the running are British actress Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine, Julia Roberts for August: Osage County and June Squibb for Nebraska.

"Usually a couple of the big awards are quite close but this year, there is just the one with best supporting actress looking set to go down to the wire," said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly.

In the best director category, David O Russell faces competition from McQueen, Cuaron, Nebraska's Alexander Payne and Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street.

Amid all the speculation, the ceremony does promise some certainties.

On the musical front, all four contenders for best original song will perform. U2 will play Ordinary Love, which they wrote for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Pharrell Williams will sing Happy from Despicable Me 2, Idina Menzel will sing Let it Go from the animated film Frozen, and Karen O will perform The Moon Song, from the Spike Jonze film Her.

Singer and actress Pink and Bette Midler are also to perform.

This year's ceremony will celebrate movie heroes and a special section will mark the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.

Ellen DeGeneres is back for a second stint as host. She hosted the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, watched by a TV audience of 39.9 million.

"She'll be great, she's money in the bank. She's one of the funniest people and she'll do an incredible job," US talk show host Conan O'Brien told the BBC on Thursday at a pre-Oscar party.

Earlier, DeGeneres tweeted: "I think we can all agree; if Meryl Streep doesn't win this year, her career is in real trouble."
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