<!--Article Start--> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="document jq_ColDocument jq_ShareArea"> <div class="tooltipContent"> <div class="scrollContent jq_Content jq_langdir tinyscrollbar doctooltip-y fontsize_0"> <div class="viewport"> <div class="overview"> <h3 style="text-align: justify">Kevin De Bruyne starred with a goal and two assists as Manchester City closed to within three points of Premier League leaders Leicester City by overwhelming Sunderland 4-1 on Saturday.</h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Three first-half goals put Manuel Pellegrini's side on course for the win at the Etihad Stadium, but it was overshadowed by an injury to Vincent Kompany.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">City's captain, returning as a second-half substitute after eight matches out with a calf injury, lasted only eight minutes before he had to come off.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Raheem Sterling, Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony all scored in the first 25 minutes for Pellegrini's team, with De Bruyne adding a further goal in the second half.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Bony then missed a penalty after Fabio Borini had pulled a goal back for Sunderland.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Pellegrini opted for a two-man attack, with Sterling working in partnership with Bony.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The former Liverpool forward's first contribution was to pick up a yellow card for diving as he attempted unsuccessfully to convince the officials that he had been barged over by Sunderland right-back Billy Jones.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But the England international gave City the advantage moments later when he sneaked in behind Jones at the far post to head in De Bruyne's cross.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">City extended that lead moments later, with Toure collecting David Silva's short square pass and turning away from a weak Jordi Gomez challenge before planting a low shot into the net from 20 yards.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Danny Graham headed wide a great chance to pull Sunderland back into the match minutes later, having found space to connect with Borini's diagonal chip.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But City responded to that escape by scoring again, Bony climbing to head in De Bruyne's free-kick from 12 yards.</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify">Exquisite back-heel</h2> <p style="text-align: justify">Goalkeeper Vito Mannone was far too slow to get down as the ball bounced inside his left-hand post.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Sunderland's defence were fortunate not to concede a fourth in the 25th minute, when Eliaquim Mangala chested the ball wide after Bony had flicked on a free-kick with the visitors in disarray.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Sunderland struggled to create chances, lone striker Steven Fletcher lifting an angled shot over the bar after getting in front of Mangala to reach Patrick van Aanholt's left-wing cross, before Borini saw a shot beaten out at the near post by Joe Hart.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">In between those two openings, though, they almost conceded a fourth goal, with Silva making a 30-yard forward burst before driving a shot just wide.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Sterling, meanwhile, was unfortunate to be judged offside as he slotted a shot into the net following a De Bruyne break.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">City continued to carve open their opponents after half-time, with Mannone diving to his right to push away a shot from Silva, who had been played in by an exquisite De Bruyne back-heel.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Their fourth goal arrived nine minutes into the second half, with De Bruyne collecting the rebound after Sebastian Coates had intercepted his attempted pass to Bony before rolling a shot past the exposed Mannone.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">City's focus wavered a little after that, allowing Borini space to have two attempts before beating Hart from substitute Lee Cattermole's low ball in.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The hosts should have had a fifth goal after that, but Bony lifted his penalty over the bar after Coates appeared to have fouled Silva just outside the area.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The major concern for Pellegrini, though, was the loss of Kompany, who looked to the skies in frustration as he walked off.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"> . <strong>By AFP</strong></p> </div> </div> </div> </div></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!--Article End-->