Iheanacho's heroics pushes City past Palace; Watford top Swansea
LONDON --
Manchester City maintained its perfect start to the season after a 90th-minute goal from Kelechi Iheanacho earned the Premier League leaders a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Iheanacho's close-range finish, just one minute after coming on as a substitute, provided a fifth consecutive win for City and put an end to Palace's flying start to the season. Palace, which beat defending champion Chelsea 2-1 just before the international break, looked to have dealt with all the pressure from a City side that was missing David Silva and Raheem Sterling through injury.
But Iheanacho reacted first to bury the rebound from Samir Nasri's shot to keep City well clear at the top of the table. City gave a debut to club record signing Kevin de Bruyne from the substitutes' bench after striker Sergio Aguero left the pitch injured, having failed to shake off the effects of a cynical trip by Palace captain Scott Dann.
Moments later, there was a mild altercation off the pitch between the two managers after Yaya Toure's late tackle on Palace's James McArthur. Alan Pardew stormed past Manuel Pellegrini and was tugged back by the City manager, though the skirmish ended with a handshake between the two men.
Prior to that, Palace had been the more likely side to score with Yannick Bolasie firing over and forcing a low save from Joe Hart, Pape Souare's volley bouncing narrowly wide and Yohan Cabaye tumbling in the box under Fernandinho's challenge. All City offered in reply was a header from Wilfried Bony that was comfortably saved by Alex McCarthy.
Aguero's departure inevitably blunted City's attack still further for the rest of the first half, although De Bruyne did test McCarthy with one fierce drive in stoppage time. Palace could have gone in ahead at the interval, though, had Jason Puncheon's shot dipped a couple of feet lower or Bakary Sako hit the target with a far-post volley.
After the break, De Bruyne gave a glimpse of the technical quality that is reported to have cost City more than 50 million pounds ($77 million), with his slide-rule pass sending Jesus Navas racing clear. The Spanish winger appeared to have done the hard work by rounding McCarthy, but then sent his finish into the side-netting. Palace's opportunity to take the points arrived 20 minutes from the end when Souare broke clear down the left and crossed for Puncheon. However, England keeper Hart palmed his header clear to make it seven shut-outs out of seven for club and country this season.
The save then proved decisive in stoppage time, with Iheanacho pouncing from close range to win the match.
Watford 1, Swansea City 0
Newly promoted Watford won its first Premier League match of the season, beating Swansea 1-0 on Saturday despite being reduced to 10 men.
Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo, who agreed a five-year contract on Friday, scored Watford's first goal since the opening day of the season. Ighalo struck in the 59th minute with a right-footed shot from six yards (meters) into the bottom left corner.
Watford went a man down less than five minutes later when Valon Behrami was sent off for a violent tackle on Andre Ayew. It was Swansea's first league loss this season. Swansea has eight points from five games, two points ahead of Watford.
Southampton 0, West Brom 0
Saido Berahino could not find the net on his return for West Bromwich Albion in a dire 0-0 draw with Southampton in the English Premier League on Saturday.
The forward was given a mixed reception as a second-half substitute following his strike threat on transfer deadline-day this month, after failing to secure a move to Tottenham. Berahino had played only two matches this season.
Like his teammates, Berahino struggled to create while Jay Rodriguez wasted Southampton's best chance in the first half at the Hawthorns. Virgil van Dijk was dominant on his debut for Southampton, while Jonny Evans was assured in defense for West Brom after joining from Manchester United.
Norwich City 3, Bournemouth 1
Wes Hoolahan inspired Norwich to a comfortable first home win of the season in the English Premier League, beating Bournemouth 3-1 to lift Alex Neil's side into the top half of the table on Saturday.
Hoolahan provided a superb assist for Cameron Jerome to open the scoring in a largely uneventful first half at Carrow Road. Hoolahan skipped past Steve Cook before squaring to Jerome to sweep home his first goal of the season.
Bournemouth found itself two behind in the 52nd as Hoolahan finished calmly from the edge of the area. Debutant Matt Jarvis added the third 15 minutes later as Bournemouth once again gave up possession all too easily, allowing Norwich to break three against two.
Cook headed home a consolation in the 81st.
