Toure, Tevez keep City hopes alive
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, February 25, 2013
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Manchester City's Carlos Tevez (second right) celebrates after scoring the second goal during their English Premier League match against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England, yesterday. City won 2-0. |
Second-half goals by Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez earned Manchester City a 2-0 win over Chelsea yesterday that gave its fading hopes of retaining the English Premier League crown a boost.
Chelsea had missed the chance to go ahead early in the second half at the Etihad Stadium when Frank Lampard had a penalty well saved by goalkeeper Joe Hart while City had endured long spells of frustration as its many chances went to waste.
Toure's sweetly struck shot into the bottom right broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute while substitute Tevez made sure of the three points with a right-footed missile five minutes from time.
The result puts second-placed City 12 points behind leader Manchester United, which won 2-0 at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday to climb to 68 points from 27 games, while Chelsea stay third with 49.
In the day's only other Premier League game, Newcastle United beat relegation rival Southampton 4-2 at home to move six points clear of danger.
In honor of its growing French contingent, Newcastle had dubbed the day 'French Day', handing out berets to its fans and playing the French national anthem prior to kick-off.
However, it was a Frenchman in a red shirt who broke the deadlock, as midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin converted a Rickie Lambert knockdown to give the Saints a third-minute lead.
Newcastle's reaction was swift and in the 32nd the hosts went ahead thanks to two French players of their own.
Yoan Gouffran forced a save from Artur Boruc after darting into the box from the left and when the ball ran across goal, Moussa Sissoko sped in to touch it over the line.
The hosts' momentum did not abate and in the 42nd they went ahead with a stunning goal, as Papiss Cisse cracked home a looping half-volley from 25 yards.
Newcastle lost captain Fabricio Coloccini to injury just before half-time and saw Southampton equalize five minutes into the second half when Lambert swept home a low cross from Adam Lallana.
However, the Magpies hit back once again and took the lead for the second time in the game when Yohan Cabaye converted a 67th-minute penalty awarded for a handball by Danny Fox. And in the 79th minute an own goal by Jos Hooiveld put Newcastle 4-2 ahead.
On Saturday, United moved closer to a 20th title and pushed QPR nearer to relegation when goals from Rafael and Ryan Giggs gave it a 2-0 away win at Loftus Road.
Arsenal ended a difficult week following home defeats by Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup and Bayern Munich in the Champions League by beating Aston Villa 2-1 with two goals from Santi Cazorla to move within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, which plays at West Ham United today.
Wigan Athletic improved its chances of avoiding the drop when it won 3-0 at fellow struggler Reading and moved above it and Villa and out of the relegation zone.
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