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LONDON -- An exquisite equalizer from Yaya Toure sparked a second-half comeback by Manchester City in the League Cup final on Sunday, with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland giving Manuel Pellegrini his first trophy as manager. Returning to the stadium where Roberto Mancinis City career ended in an FA Cup final loss last May, further Wembley misery appeared to be beckoning when Fabio Borini put Premier League struggler Sunderland in front after 10 minutes. Instead, City, which has now scored 121 goals this season, remains on course for an improbable quadruple that would require all the resolve displayed in the second half to complete. After a flat first-half performance, the recovery began after Toure nonchalantly curled into the net from 30 yards (meters) in the 55th minute, with Samir Nasri volleying home Citys second inside two minutes. City fans were already celebrating just their third trophy in three years -- following a 35-year title drought -- when Jesus Navas completed a counterattack to add the third in the 90th minute. "To win the first trophy I think is important for us all ... because at an important club you must win trophies," said Pellegrini, the Chilean who spent a decade in charge of Spanish clubs without a winners medal. "In the second half we changed it and scored two beautiful goals and we had the patience to win." City is in the Premier League title hunt and has reached the FA Cup quarterfinals, but must overturn a 2-0 deficit against Barcelona to advance in the Champions League from the round-of-16 stage. "I hope it will bring confidence for us to win the other trophies," Nasri said. After more than $1.5 billion of Abu Dhabi investment in less than six years, City has now won each of the domestic trophies in three years, following the 2011 FA Cup and 2012 Premier League title produced by Mancini. But, in a showpiece game seen live in around 180 countries, City was unpicked after just 10 minutes by a team fighting relegation when slack defending allowed Sunderland to pounce. Fernandinho was dispossessed next to the Sunderland penalty area, allowing Seb Larsson to launch a counterattack before passing to Adam Johnson on the right wing. Johnson then sent the ball high down the flank to Borini, who easily slipped beyond captain Vincent Kompany before scoring low past Costel Pantilimon. In response, there was little threat from a team which is six points off the top of the standings but with two games in hand. Sergio Aguero, back after five games out with a hamstring injury, launched himself down the right flank midway through the first half. But after crossing to Nasri, the France midfielders sight of goal was partially obscured by Lee Cattermole and it was a trouble-free save for Vito Mannone. Making amends for his earlier slackness, a well-timed tackle by Kompany cut out Borinis run on goal -- denying Sunderland a chance to double its lead before halftime. "Our first half, there was memories of Wigan," Nasri said, referring to last years FA Cup final loss. "We said that we need to stay calm, to remain focused and play our football." City did just that, and two exceptional moments swung the game in Citys favour. The curling shot from Toure looped over Mannone into the corner of the net, giving the defensive midfielder a 17th goal of the season. And before Sunderland could regroup there was an equally fine finish from Nasri. From Pantilimons quick goal kick, Aguero sent the ball to Aleksandar Kolarov, who crossed for Nasri to net with a first-time volley. "Theyve scored a great goal to get back into it, hes stuck it in the top corner from 30 yards out and then weve lost a bit of organization and its cost us a second goal," Sunderland captain John OShea said. There was no way back for Sunderland, and Fernandinho seized possession to allow City to mount a late surge forward that ended with Toure setting up Navas to beat Mannone with a close-range finish. "It wasnt to be," Sunderland manager Gus Poyet said. "But we tried ... and now we want to stay in the Premier League." Eden Hazard Jersey . The result means Atletico Madrid now tops the table, with Madrid level on points in second and Barcelona a point behind in third with nine games remaining as the title race shapes up to be the closest in years. Cesc Fabregas Chelsea Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. The latest from Bob As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie on Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to resolve their offseason plans with forward R. http://www.chelseasoccerjerseysonline.co...chelsea-jersey/. The defending champions’ roller coaster season included trading offensive star Percy Harvin in the midst of the team’s 3-3 start. That move that reportedly irked several Seahawk players, but one management saw necessary to save the team’s chemistry. NGolo Kante Jersey . Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane wanted to stay in Chicago and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the high-scoring forwards in the only NHL uniform they have ever known. Cesc Fabregas Jersey .com) - Driphus Jackson had three touchdown passes, including two in a 19-second span in the opening quarter, to guide Rice to a 30-6 rout of Fresno State at the Hawaii Bowl.INDIANAPOLIS - This could be as good a time as there has ever been for an openly gay player in the NFL. The league will be watching. In the wake of the bullying scandal in Miami, executives from teams around the league who gathered for the annual scouting combine spoke Thursday about being on guard to ensure their locker rooms are respectful and tolerant — especially with Michael Sam, expected to soon become the first publicly revealed homosexual in the NFL. Predictably, general managers and coaches said a culture of respect was already in place with their clubs before Richie Incognito, the Dolphins offensive lineman who led the extreme hazing detailed last week in an NFL-ordered report, became an infamous name. But while there havent been many major signs of response to the scandal, some tangible signs of change have at least emerged. Teams have begun to include language in coaches contracts that forces assistants to act with more tolerance than some of the Dolphins staff did. The move is designed to limit a teams liability if another Miami-like situation were to emerge with another club. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman confirmed that change, first reported by ESPN. "I think because its so much in light right now, that you have to monitor the locker room," Spielman said. "Itll be interesting to see once we get down to the owners meetings in March. Im sure thatll be a subject thatll be talked about." Dolphins coach Joe Philbin, drawing an overflow crowd of reporters in his first appearance since the report came out, forcefully reiterated his responsibility for all that happens to his team and promised a "better workplace." "I have to do a better job. Im going to look at every way — the way we educate, the way we communicate, the way we talk to one another," Philbin said. "Im going to look at every avenue." Reaction from the other 31 teams to the bullying report was far more muted, though other coaches — Dennis Allen of the Oakland Raiders among them — acknowledged the importance of keeping a better handle on locker room dynamics. Everyone, though, must deal with the questions about Sam, the Missouri defensive end projected to be drafted in the middle rounds. The NFL recently reminded teams of laws against asking draft prospects about their sexuality and the guidelines for interviewing players this week in Indianapolis.dddddddddddd A year ago, three players complained they were asked inappropriate questions they believed were intended to seek details about their sexual orientation. Talking about harmony is easy in the off-season, of course, but maintaining an atmosphere of respect and tolerance is another story once dozens of players are thrown together. With a 53-man roster, no coach can come close to hearing every word. "Its hard. You try to set a good culture and a good environment in your building and hope for the best," Denver Broncos coach John Fox said. Clearly, this issue will be scrutinized this year, with Sam entering the league, and the Dolphins trying to repair their image. "What happened there has nothing to do with what we are doing in Tampa Bay," new Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith said. "The locker room has been there all along. You have to have strong veteran leadership in the locker room. As the head football coach I have to have a pulse on what is going on in the locker room. Rely on a lot of people. Have a relationship were information comes to me. "No, we are not going to change what weve done. Our program has always been about acceptance. Everybody feeling like they are part. Everybody feeling good about coming to work every day in an environment where they can do their best." That is what this next class of rookies is counting on. "In every locker room you go theres going to be conflict," Memphis punter Tom Hornsey said. "Thats just the nature of the game. Its very competitive. Its got a lot of testosterone flowing through. ... But its not a concern. Im pretty laid back and just take it as it is." So whats the secret, then, to making sure the boys-will-be-boys culture that still exists doesnt become the dominant vibe of the locker room? Well, like with many issues, the Super Bowl champions are usually a good place to start. "Everybody puts pressure on themselves, and we try to create a culture thats outgoing, fun, aggressive," Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said. "Lifes too short to stress yourself out and stress other people out." ' ' '