Dazzling Tevez fires City to the top
Source: Agencies |
January 17, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A SPARKLING two-goal display by Carlos Tevez overshadowed a promising debut by Edin Dzeko as Manchester City claimed a nervy 4-3 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers to go top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Dzeko, a 27 million pounds (US$42.77 million) buy from VfL Wolfsburg, made a good first impression as City led 4-1 but it was hanging on at the end against the doughty visitors.
Third-placed Arsenal kept up the pressure with a 3-0 victory at West Ham United in what local media reports claim could be Avram Grant's last game in charge of the bottom club.
Chelsea was untroubled in beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0 with second-half goals by Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka.
City's victory takes it back to the top on 45 points from 23 games, a point ahead of Manchester United.
Arsenal has 43 points, Chelsea 38 and Spurs 36.
West Bromwich Albion beat Blackpool 3-2, Stoke City beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 and Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 with Fulham.
Wolves, who beat City at Molineux in October and have taken the scalps of Liverpool and Chelsea in recent weeks, took a deserved lead after 12 minutes through Nenad Milijas.
City rode its luck and levelled five minutes before halftime through Kolo Toure and went ahead four minutes after the restart when Tevez skipped past three challenges and finished superbly.
Dzeko set up Yaya Toure for a simple finish after 54 minutes and Tevez headed the fourth after 66, his 14th league goal of the season.
Wolves though hit back with a Kevin Doyle penalty and after Ronald Zubar headed their third four minutes from time City was hanging on desperately.
"I was worried in the last eight minutes as we conceded a lot of chances and we must improve in this situation," City boss Roberto Mancini said.
"We played good football in the second half but we had some problems at the back and shouldn't concede three goals at home," the Italian added.
Chelsea has also looked a long way from title material in recent weeks with a return of 10 points from 11 games and there was relief all round Stamford Bridge when Ivanovic forced in a low shot after 57 minutes.
Anelka then diverted a goalbound Ivanovic header for the clincher after 76, his first league goal since October 30.
"We deserved it, we maintained good control for all the game but it was not easy because we took a long time to score the first goal," Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
"I hope the bad moment is over now. We are not at the same level but we will come back to that level."
In a muted atmosphere at West Ham, Arsenal took control from the start and went ahead after 13 minutes when Robin van Persie lashed in a shot from the edge of the box.
Four minutes before halftime the Dutchman crossed for Theo Walcott to bang in the second. After Wayne Bridge completed a hapless debut by fouling Walcott, Van Persie completed the cruise with a penalty.
Dzeko, a 27 million pounds (US$42.77 million) buy from VfL Wolfsburg, made a good first impression as City led 4-1 but it was hanging on at the end against the doughty visitors.
Third-placed Arsenal kept up the pressure with a 3-0 victory at West Ham United in what local media reports claim could be Avram Grant's last game in charge of the bottom club.
Chelsea was untroubled in beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0 with second-half goals by Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka.
City's victory takes it back to the top on 45 points from 23 games, a point ahead of Manchester United.
Arsenal has 43 points, Chelsea 38 and Spurs 36.
West Bromwich Albion beat Blackpool 3-2, Stoke City beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 and Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 with Fulham.
Wolves, who beat City at Molineux in October and have taken the scalps of Liverpool and Chelsea in recent weeks, took a deserved lead after 12 minutes through Nenad Milijas.
City rode its luck and levelled five minutes before halftime through Kolo Toure and went ahead four minutes after the restart when Tevez skipped past three challenges and finished superbly.
Dzeko set up Yaya Toure for a simple finish after 54 minutes and Tevez headed the fourth after 66, his 14th league goal of the season.
Wolves though hit back with a Kevin Doyle penalty and after Ronald Zubar headed their third four minutes from time City was hanging on desperately.
"I was worried in the last eight minutes as we conceded a lot of chances and we must improve in this situation," City boss Roberto Mancini said.
"We played good football in the second half but we had some problems at the back and shouldn't concede three goals at home," the Italian added.
Chelsea has also looked a long way from title material in recent weeks with a return of 10 points from 11 games and there was relief all round Stamford Bridge when Ivanovic forced in a low shot after 57 minutes.
Anelka then diverted a goalbound Ivanovic header for the clincher after 76, his first league goal since October 30.
"We deserved it, we maintained good control for all the game but it was not easy because we took a long time to score the first goal," Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
"I hope the bad moment is over now. We are not at the same level but we will come back to that level."
In a muted atmosphere at West Ham, Arsenal took control from the start and went ahead after 13 minutes when Robin van Persie lashed in a shot from the edge of the box.
Four minutes before halftime the Dutchman crossed for Theo Walcott to bang in the second. After Wayne Bridge completed a hapless debut by fouling Walcott, Van Persie completed the cruise with a penalty.
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