Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/570058
52 KELECHI Iheanacho maintained Manchester City's 100 per cent start to the season with a late winner over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park - and moved Manuel Pellegrini's men 11 points clear of ailing Chelsea. The Nigerian substitute had been on the field less than a minute when he fired home in the first minute of injury time after following up when Palace keeper Alex McCarthy spilled an initial effort from Samir Nasri. And the importance of Iheana- cho's strike was underlined by the continuing travails of Jose Mourin- ho's Chelsea who had earlier slipped to their third defeat in five games courtesy of Steven Naismith's hat- trick in a 3-1 win for Everton at Goodison Park. Alan Pardew's men will feel ag- grieved not to leave with something after largely frustrating their op- ponents for much of the afternoon and coming close to grabbing the lead themselves through Jason Puncheon's first-half header. And City's joy was tempered by the sight of Sergio Aguero limping off in the 24th minute with an ap- parent right knee injury following a challenge by Scott Dann, leaving the Argentinian a doubt for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Ju- ventus. But City's problems are nothing compared to those afflicting the defending champions who were left reeling by an early double from Nai- smith, who was a ninth-minute re- placement for the injured Muhamed Besic. Mourinho's men clawed a goal back with a fine strike from Ne- manja Matic before half-time, but Naismith rewarded the hard-work- ing Toffees by wrapping up victory - and his own superb hat-trick - in the 82nd minute. Arsenal took advantage of Palace's late loss to move up to second in the table but the Gunners were afflicted by familiar problems in front of goal as they ground out a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Emirates Stadium. The hosts missed a series of first- half chances with Stoke keeper Jack Butland pulling off a series of out- standing saves before he was finally nutmegged by Theo Walcott who grabbed the opener on the half- hour. More heroics from Butland to deny Walcott and Mesut Ozil kept Stoke in the game before substitute Olivier Giroud headed home from a Santi Cazorla free-kick in the 85th minute to seal the points for Arsene Wenger's men. Saido Berahino received a mixed reception as he returned as a sec- ond-half substitute in West Brom's goalless draw with Southampton at The Hawthorns. Berahino replaced former Saint Rickie Lambert in the 54th minute but could not break the deadlock, with Jay Rodriguez missing the visi- tors' best chance and the Baggies begging in vain for a first-half pen- alty after Matt Targett pulled down Calum McManaman in the box. Ten-man Watford claimed their first win of the season with a 1-0 suc- cess against Swansea despite Valon Behrami's 64th minute red card. The Hornets went ahead just be- fore the hour-mark when Odion Ighalo fired home from a Troy Deeney knock-down to give his side their first home goal of the cam- paign. And Watford held on relatively comfortably to the points despite their numerical disadvantage due to Behrami's straight red for pulling down Andre Ayew. Alex Neil's Norwich claimed a convincing 3-1 win over Bourne- mouth at Carrow Road thanks to another fine performance from Wes Hoolahan. Hoolahan set up Cameron Jer- ome's 35th-minute opener then added a second himself early in the second half. Matt Jarvis marked his debut with the Canaries' third on 67 minutes before the Cherries grabbed a late consolation from Steve Cook. Anthony Martial wasted no time in writing himself into Manchester United folklore as he stepped off the bench to score a stunning debut goal against Liverpool. Twenty-one minutes after his in- troduction, the £58million dead- line-day signing turned Martin Skr- tel twice before rolling the ball past Simon Mignolet to wrap up a 3-1 win for Louis van Gaal's side. Christian Benteke had found the net with an acrobatic and argu- ably superior goal moments earlier, but Martial stole the show after his maiden strike. Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2015 FOOTBALL Part of the European Mobility Week and Do The Right Mix Campaign Monday 21st September 2015 Independence Day Registration: 08.00 am 6WDUWVDQGHQGVDPWRDP%HOWLV6HEĢ)ORULDQD Participation is free of charge Several electric bicycles to be won. www.mobilityweek.eu EuropeanMobilityWeekMalta Malta National Electromobility Platform with the collaboration of Part of the European Mobility Week and Do The Right Mix Campaign Several electric bicycles to be won. VW-Malta www.volkswagen.com.mt Continental Cars Ltd, Testaferrata Street, Msida | Sales: 23476 315/6/7 | Mobile: 9943 3330 | E-Mail: vw@ccl.mizzi.com.mt Mizzi Motors Showroom, Ghajnsielem, Gozo | Sales: 2155 6942 | Mobile: 9978 2000 | E-Mail: jcassar@mizzimotors.com.mt The VOLKSWAGEN Up! Starting from € 11,500 5 Year Warranty Parts & Labour 12 Year Body Warranty Iheanacho snatches win for City A review of Saturday's Barclays Premier League action so far as Chelsea's start to the season went from bad to worse at Everton Eliaquim Mangala of Manchester City is closed down by Yannick Bolasie