Dzeko scores 4 as Man City crushes Spurs 5-1

Posted Sunday, August 28, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

LONDON (AP)—Edin Dzeko scored four goals as Manchester City crushed Tottenham 5-1 on Sunday in a ruthless display of the big-spending team’s Premier League title credentials.

Debutant Samir Nasri set up Dzeko for two close-range finishes in the first half and the pass for the Bosnian striker’s third was provided by Yaya Toure after the break.

After Sergio Aguero hit the fourth and Younes Kaboul pulled one back for Tottenham, Dzeko put the gloss on City’s third successive win in stoppage time by curling the ball into the top corner.

After investing more than a $1 billion on players in three years, the Sheikh Mansour-owned team finally appears to be a cohesive attacking unit, with the trio of wins coming with 12 goals.

City was completely rampant at White Hart Lane as Nasri—signed from Arsenal during the week—injected even more creativity to a team boasting an array of attacking talents perhaps now only eclipsed by Barcelona.

Such an emphatic victory over Spurs exposed the gulf that now exists between the sides. It was only 16 months ago that the north London club pipped City to fourth place.

Spurs have now started the season with back-to-back losses after being ripped apart by the FA Cup champions.

It was Tottenham, though, that provided the initial menace.

Inside the opening minute, Benoit Assou-Ekotto charged down the left flank and whipped in a cross to Aaron Lennon, but the winger’s shot missed the target.

Niko Kranjcar also tried his luck from distance, but Nasri was soon testing goalkeeper Brad Friedel before setting up David Silva for a strike that the American could only parry.

Spurs were yet to be completely overrun by the visitors, with a golden opportunity to take the lead squandered.

After a burst down the right flank, Lennon delivered a cross that evaded the City defense and reached the unmarked Gareth Bale at the far post, but the Wales winger skewed the ball over.

It proved to be a big missed opportunity, with Dzeko quickly showing Bale how to find the back of the net from close range in the 34th minute.

Dzeko tapped the ball past Friedel, withstanding Kaboul’s challenge to meet Nasri’s cross after the France midfielder played a one-two Aguero.

The second seven minutes later took Friedel completely by surprise, remaining static as Dzeko buried Nasri’s cross with a header into the top corner.

There were changes from Spurs at the start of the second half, with Tom Huddlestone replacing Kranjcar to provide a defensive shield and Jermain Defoe on for Lennon.

But Spurs continued to leak goals, with Dzeko getting on the end of a cross from Yaya Toure to clip the ball into the net 10 minutes into the second half.

On the hour came City’s fourth with Aguero shrugging off Dawson’s challenge in the box, bursting into the penalty area and striking past Friedel.

Kaboul made amends for being unable to block Dzeko for the first two goals when headed home Van der Vaart’s corner in the 68th.

But it was too late to inspire a comeback against a formidable City side, and after a one-two with Gareth Barry, Dzeko curled the ball into the net to become the first City player to score four goals in a Premier League match.