Last-gasp goal sends City top
Toure’s deflected injury-time shot sinks Swansea, puts Pellegrini’s side ahead on goal difference
LONDON: Yaya Toure’s fortuitous stoppage-time deflection gave Manchester City a 2-1 home win over managerless Swansea City yesterday that provisionally sent Manuel Pellegrini’s side top in the Premier League.
Swansea, who sacked Garry Monk on Wednesday, looked to have earned a point when Bafetimbi Gomis scored a 90th-minute equaliser, only for Yaya Toure’s shot to hit teammate Iheanacho and loop in two minutes later.
City move top on goal difference, above previous leaders Leicester City, who host champions Chelsea tomorrow, but could be joined on 32 points by Manchester United, who were to visit Bournemouth later yesterday.
With first-team coach Alan Curtis at the helm, Swansea made three changes at a rain-lashed Etihad Stadium, Angel Rangel, Federico Fernandez and Jack Cork replacing Kyle Naughton, Kyle Bartley and Gomis.
Cork set up an early sight of goal for Wayne Routledge, whose shot was blocked by Joe Hart, and the England goalkeeper also had to push an effort from Gylfi Sigurdsson over the bar.
But after Swansea captain Ashley Williams had diverted a Jesus Navas shot over the bar, Wilfried Bony put the hosts in front in the 26th minute, meeting Navas’ left-wing corner with an emphatic near-post header.
Swansea did level minutes later, Gomis running onto Fernandez’s slide-rule pass and slamming a shot past Hart at his near post, only for City to wrest back the advantage in the cruellest fashion.
Toure took aim with his left foot from the right-hand edge of the area and the ball struck 19-year-old Nigerian substitute Iheanacho on the back before spinning past Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace drew level on points with fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, who host Newcastle United today, after Yohan Cabaye’s 38th-minute tap-in earned them a 1-0 home win over Southampton.
Everton remain in ninth place after squandering a chance to close on the leading sides in a 1-1 draw at Norwich City.
Promoted Watford moved up to seventh place after winning 1-0 at Sunderland while West Ham United drew 0-0 at home to Stoke City in the day’s other match.