Sunderland 0 : Manchester City 3
01/09/2008 6:16 AM
area, and when he drilled the ball across goal, Wright-Phillips made the most of some poor marking to sidefoot the ball into the empty net.
Sunderland's efforts to get itself back into the game were laboured, and were rendered fruitless with 58 minutes gone when Wright-Phillips ran on to Michael Ball's pass over the top and flicked a shot past the advancing Gordon.
Keane's response was to send on three strikers - David Healy, Anthony Stokes and Daryl Murphy - for Cisse, Diouf and Leadbitter, but the cause looked a forlorn one.
Hart was a virtual spectator as his defenders managed to mop up what little the Black Cats threw at them with ease as time ran down.
Indeed, City might have increased its lead with 12 minutes remaining when Vedran Corluka squared for Ireland, but he lifted his shot high over the bar.
Wright-Phillips was warmly applauded as he left the pitch to be replaced by Elano five minutes from time as City boss Mark Hughes started to celebrate a comprehensive victory over former Manchester United team-mate Keane.
English Premier League
Sunderland 0
Manchester City 3 (Ireland 45, Wright-Phillips 50, 58)