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PREMIER LEAGUE – MAN CITY’S ROBINHO SCORES THRICE TO EARN CITY TRIUMPH October 27, 2008
(SomaliNet) With a 3-0 victory over Stoke at the City of Manchester Stadium, a Robinho hat-trick saw Manchester City record their first win in three Premier League games.
In just his eighth game for the club, the Brazilian scored his fourth, fifth and sixth goals in a fine offensive display by the home side, although Stoke let Mark Hughes's side know they were in a game.
Manchester Citywere unstoppable at times, although keeper Joe Hart - who had signed a new five-year contract prior to kick-off - needed to be at his best to keep Stoke out, especially in the first half.
City made the stronger start and it was no surprise they eventually went in front after 14 minutes. Elano headed into the path of young Ched Evans, who calmly rolled the ball to Robinho, in space to his left. The Brazilian made the finish look easy with a calm low finish inside the near post.
Stoke responded strongly however, and City keeper Hart had to tip Ricardo Fuller's effort around the post after Tal Ben Haim had made a mistake just outside his own box, while Richard Dunne twice made crucial tackles on Fuller just as the striker looked to pull the trigger.
The visitors came close to levelling ten minutes before the break as Dunne required treatment on the sidelines on a twisted ankle, but Ryan Shawcross planted his header from a corner straight at Hart on his goalline.
Stoke then had an even better chance to get back on level terms just seconds before half-time when Fuller sprinted on to a ball over the top and held off Dunne on the edge of the box, but his right-foot effort flew high over the crossbar.
It took just three minutes into the second half for the home side to double their lead, as Robinho fired his second past Thomas Sorensen after substitute Danny Sturridge had cleverly laid the ball into his path following a strong run cutting in from the right.
The goal gave City the confidence to express themselves in the final third and they began to tear the visitors apart in a stunning 15-minute spell that saw Micah Richards blast over from six yards out and Sorensen tip a low Robinho drive around his post.
At the other end, Tom Soares brought a save out of Hart with a fierce drive, although the better chances were coming at the other end, Robinho spurning a superb chance for a hat-trick when he fired straight at Sorensen from six yards out after Shaun Wright-Phillips had cut the ball back to him.
But the brilliant Brazilian did finally get his third after another superb counter attack, Wright-Phillips breaking through the middle before Sturridge again showed wonderful vision to cross to the unmarked Robinho, who rolled past the helpless Sorensen.
Wright-Phillips should have made it four when he was through one-on-one with Sorensen moments later, but the little winger got caught in two minds between a shot and a pass into the path of a team-mate.
Stoke showed willing right to the final whistle, with substitute Dave Kitson heading at Hart in the final moments when City went to sleep in defence, but the home side managed to keep their clean sheet - the first in five matches.-Eurosport