London: Yaya Toure scored one goal and created another as Manchester City enhanced its Premier League title credentials with a 3-1 victory at bottom-place West Ham on Saturday.
The Ivory Coast midfielder opened the scoring in the 30th by slamming home a left-footed finish before his 73rd-minute shot hit a post and rebounded into the net off unfortunate West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green for an own goal.
Substitute Adam Johnson ran onto David Silva's pass and completed the rout in the 81st, putting City provisionally second in the table, level on 32 points with leader Arsenal. The Gunners play Manchester United on Monday.
West Ham scored a consolation through centre-back James Tomkins in the 89th but remains rooted to the bottom of the table.
In City's last match in the capital, it thrashed Fulham 4-1 to make a real statement of intent to its title rivals and this victory was just as emphatic.
Toure was central to everything for the visitors. He has been playing in a more advanced role than usual in his first year at City since his move from Barcelona and he reveled in the open spaces afforded to him and Silva.
West Ham, with just two league wins this campaign, played with two wingers and two strikers, often leaving central midfielders Scott Parker and Jonathan Spector overrun.
City dominated possession in the first half but, as so often this season and much to Mancini's chagrin, it lacked a cutting edge until Toure's goal.
Mario Balotelli failed to get any purchase on a cross from strike partner Jo with the goal at his mercy in the fourth minute and Toure's incisive 50-yard run in the 27th ended with a powder-puff shot straight at Green.
The Ivorian's effort three minutes later couldn't have been any different. Gareth Barry's inside pass, meant for Silva, was pounced on by Toure, who beat Spector to the ball and smashed an unstoppable, first-time shot high into the net from 15 yards.
The Hammers' only real chances of the first half fell to the recalled Junior Stanislas, whose angled shot was saved in the 22nd, and Frederic Piquionne, who headed over in stoppage time.
They were booed off at the break — not for the first time this season — but were more competitive in the second half and gave City less time on the ball, early on at least.
Mancini's side still looked the more dangerous going forward and only a last-ditch tackle by Tomkins denied Balotelli in the 57th. The stroppy Italy striker was substituted four minutes later, showing his disgust by walking straight down the tunnel.
Toure was celebrating again in the 73rd. He ran on to a pass down the left channel by Nigel de Dong, closed in on goal by outpacing Tomkins and shot from an acute angle, the ball rebounding back off the post, hitting Green and bouncing into the net.
Balotelli's replacement, Johnson, wrapped up the win with a delightful third by latching onto Silva's through-ball, rounding Green and slotting into an empty net.
Tomkins's last-minute headed goal, which deflected in off Kolo Toure, gave something for the West Ham fans to cheer on another depressing day at Upton Park. Their team is level on 12 points with second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers, which has a game in hand.
Comments
0 comment