[ 2011-05-18 ]

Carlos Tevez

Premier League - Sublime Tevez stars as City move third
Carlos Tevez proved the difference as Manchester
City eased into third place in the Premier League
with a 3-0 win over Stoke City at Eastlands.

The Argentine forward gave City a stark reminder
of his importance to the club with a sublime brace
either side of a headed Joleon Lescott effort as
the FA Cup winners registered their second win
over the Potters in four days that followed their
Wembley triumph at the weekend.

With one game remaining this season, City now have
a hold on third place - and automatic
qualification for the Champions League.

Roberto Mancini's side travel to Bolton on the
final day of the season knowing that if they at
least match what fourth-placed Arsenal do at
Fulham, they will avoid the potentially hazardous
qualifying round of Europe's elite club
competition.

To do so would cap a fine season for the blue half
of Manchester and provide a great platform from
which to build a genuine title challenge next time
out. Off the back of tonight's performance, it has
become even clearer that keeping Tevez at the club
is integral to achieving those aspirations.

City started brightly, as expected considering the
relative home and away form of the two sides: City
had won eight of their last nine games at
Eastlands, while Stoke had taken just two points
from their last nine games on the road.

With the Potters set up with five across midfield,
it was left to Mancini's men to figure out a way
through the stubborn resistance they met. Until
Tevez swooped with his first, they had failed to
really test Thomas Sorensen.

There was nothing the keeper could do when Tevez
broke the deadlock on 14 minutes though, such was
the brilliance of his strike. Having played a
one-two with James Milner, he jinked first past
Ryan Shawcross and then Andy Wilkinson before
slamming a shot past the despairing Sorensen and
into the top corner.

The goal smacked of class, the likes of which City
will sorely miss next season should Tevez decide
to quit Eastlands. A recent interview did nothing
to dispel rumours he could be packing his bags
sooner rather than later, although Mancini said
after the match that the player had told him he
wants to stay.

Tevez could have added to that effort - his 19th
goal of the season - but a first-time shot with
the outside of his boot landed straight in
Sorensen's arms.

Lescott added a second to effectively put the game
beyond Stoke eight minutes after the break, the
defender rising to meet a free-kick ahead of
Sorensen and plant a header into the back of the
net.

Tevez soon netted his 20th of the season to draw
level with Dimitar Berbatov at the top of the
scoring charts with a wonderful free-kick that
curled into the top corner from a starting point
well wide of the post.

That would set Tevez up for a possible hat-trick
and he thought he had been given the perfect
chance to register another treble with 10 minutes
remaining when Milner was sent crashing to the
turf and referee Lee Probert pointed to the spot.

James Collins had made initial contact with the
England midfielder outside the box though, and
once corrected by his assistance Mr Probert
correctly awarded a free-kick right on the edge of
the area. Tevez dinked the ball over the bar this
time.

He was withdrawn with two minutes left on the
clock and his wave to all four corners of the
ground was met with a standing ovation as City
fans were left to wonder if his gesture was a
permanent goodbye.

City could easily have won by a bigger margin,
substitute Edin Dzeko particularly guilty of
profligacy when he failed to beat Sorensen when
one-on-one with the keeper on 58 minutes.

The Bosnian then hit the outside of a post from a
narrow angle before heading over the bar from a
corner as time ran out, and a fourth goal remained
elusive. Not that City will mind; FA Cup winners
and now a likely top-three finish constitutes a
successful season as the club finally threatens to
make good on the huge investment in their team.

Source - Eurosport

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