Nigerian International Kelechi Iheanacho was
Man of the match as Manchester City thumped Crystal Palace to progress
into the last eight of the Capital one cup.
One goal and two assists from the 19-year-old were enough to take the Man of the Match honours in City’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace.
With not much between the teams as the half approached the halfway point, City took the lead as De Bruyne’s corner found Bony in box who did enough to head pass keeper Wayne Hennessey in the 22nd minute.
City extended their lead minutes later as Iheanacho drove into the box, drew two defenders towards him before sliding an inch-perfect cross to De Bruyne who made no mistake from close range.
De Bruyne will return the favour just before the half time break as he picked out Iheanacho for the young Nigerian to coolly slot home pass Wayne Hennessey.
There was more punishment for the visitors when Eliaquim Mangala was fouled in the box from a corner and Yaya Toure stroked the penalty home on 79 minutes.
Palace pulled back a goal when Damien Delaney hammered home a shot high past Caballero, but the rampant City had the final say when sub Manu Garcia slotted home the fifth after yet another good work from Iheanancho.
Reacting after the game, Manuel Pellegrini revealed that he was delighted and warned that Iheanancho will get even better in the coming years.
“It was very important for Kelechi to demonstrate once again that he’s a very good player,” the manager said.
“He’s not just a striker – he provided two assists – I’m very happy for him. He has things to improve but he’s working in the correct way.
“I had no doubt in him – I see how he works every day and his personality is important and it’s important for him to play with important players.
“Kelechi is not a box striker, he’s not just a finisher – he must improve his control as he needs to do it better but he always plays with his head up as he showed creating the goal for Kevin.
“After that, with more space for Manu Garcia. He’s a player who can play behind the striker or as a striker and he can arrive into the box to score the goals as he did tonight.”
In the other game, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young all missed from the spot as Manchester United crashed out from the Capital one Cup after 3-1 penalty shootout to Middlesbrough.
With nothing to separate both teams after 120 minutes, penalty had be the decider at Old Trafford.
However, Rooney, Carrick and Young all failed to convert their spot kicks allowing the visitors to advance to the quarter finals.
In Anfield, Nathaniel Clyne early opener was enough to hand Jurgen Klopp his first win of the season as Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 1-0, while goals from Yoshida and Graziano Pelle handed Southampton a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa.
Watch highlights of the game below:
One goal and two assists from the 19-year-old were enough to take the Man of the Match honours in City’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace.
With not much between the teams as the half approached the halfway point, City took the lead as De Bruyne’s corner found Bony in box who did enough to head pass keeper Wayne Hennessey in the 22nd minute.
City extended their lead minutes later as Iheanacho drove into the box, drew two defenders towards him before sliding an inch-perfect cross to De Bruyne who made no mistake from close range.
De Bruyne will return the favour just before the half time break as he picked out Iheanacho for the young Nigerian to coolly slot home pass Wayne Hennessey.
There was more punishment for the visitors when Eliaquim Mangala was fouled in the box from a corner and Yaya Toure stroked the penalty home on 79 minutes.
Palace pulled back a goal when Damien Delaney hammered home a shot high past Caballero, but the rampant City had the final say when sub Manu Garcia slotted home the fifth after yet another good work from Iheanancho.
Iheanacho celebrates his goal
Reacting after the game, Manuel Pellegrini revealed that he was delighted and warned that Iheanancho will get even better in the coming years.
“It was very important for Kelechi to demonstrate once again that he’s a very good player,” the manager said.
“He’s not just a striker – he provided two assists – I’m very happy for him. He has things to improve but he’s working in the correct way.
“I had no doubt in him – I see how he works every day and his personality is important and it’s important for him to play with important players.
“Kelechi is not a box striker, he’s not just a finisher – he must improve his control as he needs to do it better but he always plays with his head up as he showed creating the goal for Kevin.
“After that, with more space for Manu Garcia. He’s a player who can play behind the striker or as a striker and he can arrive into the box to score the goals as he did tonight.”
In the other game, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young all missed from the spot as Manchester United crashed out from the Capital one Cup after 3-1 penalty shootout to Middlesbrough.
With nothing to separate both teams after 120 minutes, penalty had be the decider at Old Trafford.
However, Rooney, Carrick and Young all failed to convert their spot kicks allowing the visitors to advance to the quarter finals.
In Anfield, Nathaniel Clyne early opener was enough to hand Jurgen Klopp his first win of the season as Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 1-0, while goals from Yoshida and Graziano Pelle handed Southampton a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa.
Watch highlights of the game below:
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SOCCER