Mpongo Magic ices the cake as City pull away late on

By Donncha Noonan | Photo: Kevin Barry Dorney

In the wake of the opening round of the World Cup in America, for some there was a bigger calling: the return of the League of Ireland. Coming off of the mid-season break, City looked to further extend their lead at the top of the First Division table, as they traveled east to Wexford. After a tough and slow game, two goals; one from super sub Ruairi Keating, and a bizarre effort from Hans Mpongo were enough to put the hosts away.

Barry Robson made three changes to the side that eased past Finn Harps before the break. Ruairi Keating, Darragh Crowley and Harry Nevin all made way, with AJ Bridge, Matthew Murray and Fiacre Kelleher coming in.

Stephen Elliott also went with three changes from his side’s loss to Bray. Paul Martin, Robbie McCourt and Ryan Ritchie all entered the lineup, with Alex Moody, Evan Osam and Gavin Hodgins coming out.

There was genuinely only one proper chance in the first half, and it came in the third minute for the hosts. A long ball forward found the feet of Jamie Wynne on the right wing, who laid it back to Ryan Butler, but his cross was half cleared by Greg Bolger. The ball fell to Kaylem Harnett, who fired a shot that hit the feet of Mikie Rowe, but the forward’s following effort could only roll narrowly wide of Conor Brann’s goal.

That was all for the action in the first half, as both teams really struggled to string any period of play together of note, with each side providing the quality to put the other to the sword.

The second half started more action-packed than the first, with the opening chance of the half going City’s way in the fourty-ninth minute. Niall O’Keeffe wiggled through midfield before spreading the ball wide to Cillian Murphy. He danced towards the box before cutting inside and unleashing an effort towards goal which stung the palms of Paul Martin, but the Wexford keeper was able to deal with it.

Wexford followed that with a similar chance eleven minutes later. The hosts burst forward on a counter led by Jake Doyle, who made it to the edge of the box before laying it off to Mikie Rowe. Rowe wriggled through City defenders before angling a shot on goal, but Brann was able to bat it down to keep the game scoreless.

They were piling pressure onto City, and really should've taken the lead in the eight third minute. A lofted corner fell to the feet of Jamie Wynne at the edge of the box, who looped the ball over the head of Cillian Murphy, then flicked it towards Mike Rowe in the box. He laid it back to Ryan Butler, who poked a shot past Conor Brann, but Greg Bolger was on the line to nod it away and keep Wexford at bay.

Despite their efforts, it was City who found the lead with four minutes to play. Donal O’Connor received the ball over on the right hand side and slipped it into Niall O’Keeffe. He beat his man before lofting a ball into the box, where Ruairi Keating rose highest to power a brilliant header past a scrambling Paul Martin to give his side a late lead, just a minute after entering the fray.

They weren’t done there though as just a minute later Hans Mpongo produced a moment of brilliance to double City’s advantage. The visitors broke forward through Ruairi Keating, who burst from the midfield and slotted it left to Hans Mpongo. He got stuck on the byline surrounded by Wexford players, so he found space and sent a rabona from a tight angle over the head of Paul Martin and into the back of the net, to the astonishment of everyone watching.

And that would be the last big moment of the game, as two late goals saved City from disappointment after a sub-par performance. It’s a weird match to analyse, because for eighty percent of the game it would be fair to say Wexford deserved to win, but City’s natural quality ultimately pulled through in the end and grabbed them the win. It’s all well and good to do this now, but we’ll have to be careful as stuff like this simply won’t fly in the Premier Division.

My Man of the Match goes to Wexford's Ryan Butler. I know City won two nil, but i struggled to pick a City player who deserved it, so I went with Wexford’s rock at the back, Ryan Butler. He did really well in denying City any real threat in Wexford’s box and commanded his area expertly for a player who is only eighteen.

It’s a positive start back for City, and they’ll look to build on that on Friday as they host Treaty United at the Cross. As for Wexford, they’ll need to pick themselves up again for their trip to Athlone.