Manchester City took their goal tally to 57 in the Premier League after winning 3-2 away at Swansea. PHOTO: AFP
SWANSEA: Three impressive goals gave Manchester City a 3-2 win at Swansea City on New Year’s Day that kept the 2012 champions on course to regain the Premier League title.
Fernandinho struck the opening blow, in the 14th minute, and although Wilfried Bony equalised on the stroke of half-time and bagged a late consolation, second-half goals from Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov won the day.
City have struggled to replicate their stunning home form on the road this season, but victory gave them back-to-back away wins for the first time this term. Meanwhile, Swansea have now gone six games without victory.
It was Manuel Pellegrini’s visitors who almost took the lead inside three minutes, however, when Edin Dzeko dragged his shot wide of home goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel’s far post.
As the half wore on, City grew in stature and posed Swansea’s back four numerous problems.
The deadlock was broken when Jonathan de Guzman’s attempted clearance from a Samir Nasri corner fell to the feet of Fernandinho, who made no mistake with a low shot from just inside the box.
De Guzman had a chance to equalise mid-way through the first half, but the midfielder was denied by a regulation save from Joe Hart.
Gradually, Swansea grew into the game themselves and after one or two near misses, they equalised in the final minute of the half.
A slick move was finished by Bony, who headed De Guzman’s centre past the helpless Hart despite appearing to be offside.
Pellegrini demanded greater urgency from his side and after Negredo saw his far-post volley blocked by Ben Davies, Toure turned on the edge of the penalty area and beat Tremmel via the heel of Ashley Williams.
The introduction of Javi Garcia for Negredo, provided early proof that Pellegrini was happy to sit on his side’s one-goal advantage.
It also gave Swansea added impetus to head off in search of a second equaliser, but in the 66th minute City struck again.
Kolarov robbed Routledge deep in his own half and after racing 50 yards, he beat Tremmel from 25 yards with a smart shot that the goalkeeper could not keep out.
However, Bony did set up a nervous final few moments with his second goal, from distance, in stoppage time, but City held on.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2014.
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Your sports desk seriously doesn't update regularly do they? Arsenal is now on top. If you are writing about Match Day, then publish results at the end of the day. So the readers know the right information. Thank you!