Sports
Man City climb to third after thrashing Palace 5-0
In an overwhelming atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Manchester City thrashed Crystal Palace 5-0 to go third on the English Premier league table.
This is manager Pep Guardiola’s biggest Premier League win as his team continue in their race for a Champions league spot next season.
The home team needed only two minutes to break through Palace’s makeshift defence, with David Silva slotting home the opener in the first half.
They doubled their lead three minutes into the second half when captain Vincent Kompany’s sublime finish found the top corner, before Kevin de Bruyne made it three with a low effort on the hour mark.
The visitors’ nightmare was compounded when Raheem Sterling half-volleyed past their goalkeeper eight minutes to stoppage time, and Nicolas Otamendi headed home two minutes of added time to make it five for the hosts.
Read Also: Tottenham’s defeat leaves Chelsea two wins from EPL title
Crystal Palace remain five points above the relegation zone but could be pulled further into danger if Hull City and Swansea win later on Saturday.
“All five goals were avoidable. We didn’t make them produce their brilliant talent, we gifted them five goals. They punished us heavily,” Palace coach, Sam Allardyce, said after the heavy defeat.
“Gifting Manchester City a goal at the Etihad is not what you want to do. Defending in the right areas correctly is what you have to do. We gifted Vincent Kompany a goal of all people.”
Kompany, speaking after the match said, “We wanted to set this chain of home games right and it couldn’t have gone better. We need to repeat the performance in the next games.”
Manchester City will play champions Leicester City next, as they continue in the race for top four.
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