Roberto Mancini might have conceded that the title race is over and might have already crowned United champions, but his players do not seem to think so! Carlos Tevez, after missing a major part of the season due to disciplinary issues, netted thrice while fellow Argentinian Sergio Aguero scored twice as Manchester City reduced the gap at the top of the table to two points with a 6-1 thrashing of Norwich City.
Carlos Tevez tricks in Manchester City win
It was a terrific display of finishing from the Argentinians as the Citizens were in complete control in the early kick-off on Saturday. Tevez, after scoring a goal in his first start in ages in midweek against West Bromwich, was selected to start again and he repaid the faith Mancini put in him with another tremendous display.
After being booked early on for a dive when he was clearly fouled in the box, Tevez opened the scoring with a scorcher of a goal in the 18th minute!! After receiving a well-crafted pass from Silva, Tevez smashed in a shot from 25 yards past the clueless Ruddy that swirled into the top corner. Beauty! The troubled Argentinian striker was only getting started!
If the first goal was a scorcher, the second one was an absolute gem. Aguero exchanged passes with Tevez, who set him up beautifully with a backheel before Aguero curled it into the top corner from distance to make it 2-0. Norwich, who had won seven of their last eight league games, pulled back a goal through Surman who crisply shot after Hart’s punch of a corner failed to clear the box.
The Canaries held on firmly as they looked to get something out of the game. But their resistance was broken in the 73rd minute, Carlos Tevez breaking Norwich hearts again! YayaToure’s drilled in shot was blocked by Ruddy but the ball bounced up for Tevez, who got in ahead of the defender to head in from close range into an empty net. Less than two minutes later, the game was as good as over as City put in their fourth, Aguero curling in yet another wonderful goal from 20 yards out.
The inclusion of Toure and Johnson seemed to have pep up things for City as goals were now flying in. A disaster of a backpass helped Tevez put in another goal into an empty net as he celebrated his first consecutive start in 11 months with a hat-trick and a golf swing to celebrate his third strike, perhaps mocking those who questioned his desire during his unauthorized leave of absence in his home country where he was pictured on the golf course.
Aguero came close to matching his fellow country mate as he struck the bar but City completed the perfect rout with Johnson putting in a sixth goal from close range.
The victory opened up the title race yet again as three valuable points meant that they now trail Manchester United by two points, who host Aston Villa later on Sunday. City now travel to bottom of the table Wolves before the big derby against United and if United slip up either against Villa or Everton next week, the title race would be well and truly open then!
Tags: Carlos Tevez, EPL, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Norwich City, Premier League, Roberto Mancini
