They were flashes of brilliance. For long spells, Manchester City had toyed with the idea of another unsatisfactory cup final, but when they shook their heads clear there was something devastating about the way they set about turning this match upside down.

Manuel Pellegrini's team had been trailing to driven, highly-motivated opponents and looking conspicuously short of ideas when Yaya Toure curled a shot into the top corner of Vito Mannone's net to announce the recovery process.

It was one of the great Wembley goals since the new stadium took shape and what followed, off the outside of Samir Nasri's boot, could easily fall into the same category. Pellegrini's men had taken their time but that quick one-two, in the space of 105 seconds, completely changed the emphasis before the last, slightly cruel breakaway when Jesus Navas guaranteed the first piece of silverware this season was on its way to Manchester.

Sunderland had given everything and deserved the lead that Fabio Borini had supplied 10 minutes into a first half that, for City, had invoked a clinging sense of deja vu from last season's FA Cup final. Afterwards, Pellegrini indicated that the memories of that defeat to Wigan Athletic might have contributed to City's early nerves.

Gulf in class
Yet the turnaround was a great reminder of the disparity between a team from the Premier League's relegation places and the most financially endowed club in the land. Sunderland never showed any hint of inferiority complex from the moment Phil Bardsley scythed down David Silva in the first few minutes. But City, even below their most distinguished best, still had it within themselves to conjure up these moments.

For that, Sunderland ought to feel no shame. It is possible to lose and to play well and Gus Poyet’s team, with Ki Sung-yeung outstanding, did not go down without a commendable show of togetherness. Borini’s goal was another peach, on a day of outstanding finishing at one end of the stadium, and City had been second best before Toure reminded us of the scoring ability that has brought him 17 goals this season.

Toure, to recap, has the starting position of a holding midfielder. He had been almost 30 yards out when he took aim, striking the ball first time from Pablo Zabaleta’s layoff, with just the right amount of curl and loft to put it in the part of the goal Mannone was never going to reach.

Perhaps Sunderland had fallen into the trap of defending a little too deeply. In the first half, certainly, Toure would probably not have been given time without Lee Cattermole or Seb Larsson closing him down. Yet Poyet, who felt Larsson had been fouled in the build-up, made the point afterwards there is nothing much an opposition manager can do to legislate for these moments of individual brilliance – “unless you shoot him” – and it was the same from virtually the next City attack.

This time, Sergio Agüero latched on to Costel Pantilimon’s kick and turned the ball into Aleksandar Kolarov’s path. His cross from the left was deflected across the penalty area and, without breaking stride, Nasri took it first time, showing remarkable control to send it spinning and swerving into the same corner Borini had picked out in the first half. “We didn’t make any mistakes today,” lamented Poyet. “They won it with their quality.”

Missed opportunity
After that, Sunderland had no option but to break out from counter

attacking and there were always going to be moments when they left gaps for their opponents to exploit. Poyet’s team certainly did not give up easily but substitute Steven Fletcher made a pig’s ear of their best opportunity and there were four City players against two defenders when Toure broke free and advanced over the halfway line in the last minute of normal time. Navas, overlapping on the right, had been bright and lively after replacing Agüero and made sure of Pellegrini’s first trophy for the club with a right-foot finish.

It had been some turnaround and it was difficult not to sympathise with Sunderland. Their supporters had given them immense backing and they will wonder what might have been if Borini had not been caught by Vincent Kompany when he ran clear, looking offside but with no flag raised, seven minutes before half-time. Kompany had been unconvincing for Borini’s goal but this was a crucial interception.

The Sunderland goal had started with Cattermole dispossessing Fernandinho, in a little snapshot of how the first half panned out. Larsson moved the ball to Adam Johnson and the former City player turned defence from attack with a long pass to examine whether Borini could slip away from Kompany and Martin Demichelis.

There was something Suárez-esque about the way Borini eluded them both, left Kompany on his backside and used the outside of his right boot to bend his shot past Pantilimon.

It was a brilliant and quick piece of improvisation but City’s response after the break was a reminder of the superior quality at the top of the league.