Grealish marked his home debut following his British record
£100 million ($136 million) move from Aston Villa with a close-range effort to
double City’s lead in the first half.
Tim Krul’s own goal had given City the lead at the Etihad
Stadium.
Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez netted in
the second half to ensure City bounced back from last weekend’s defeat at Tottenham.
City had been beaten in both of Grealish’s previous
appearances, losing the Community Shield against Leicester and then slumping in
their Premier League opener.
But Grealish’s first goal since January helped show Pep
Guardiola’s side they can cope without Harry Kane if their prolonged pursuit of
the Tottenham striker ends in failure.
With the injured Kevin De Bruyne absent for City, Gabriel
Jesus, Bernardo Silva and Laporte all started amid reports they are looking to
leave after growing unhappy with their reduced roles last season.
Jesus took the chance to remind Guardiola of his qualities
with a virtuoso display.
It was the Brazilian forward’s volleyed cross in the seventh
minute that brought City’s opener.
Grant Hanley attempted to clear but instead hit Norwich
goalkeeper Krul as the ball looped into the net.
Grealish got off the mark in slightly fortuitous fashion in
the 22nd minute.
Jesus’s cross reached Grealish at the far post and bounced
in off the England midfielder.
Laporte scored in the 64th minute with a close-range finish
after Norwich failed to clear a corner.
Jesus provided his third assist of the afternoon as Sterling
tapped in after 71 minutes before Mahrez grabbed City’s fifth with a simple
finish in the 84th minute.
0 comments:
Post a Comment