Yaya Toure scored a hat-trick as Manchester City eased to a 5-0 victory over struggling Fulham in their Premier League match this afternoon.
The home side came close to opening the scoring when James Milner drilled in a low strike from the edge of the box that was had to be pushed behind by David Stockdale.
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Fulham had a chance of their own soon after, as Kieran Richardson lashed a low strike wide of the post.
Midway through the first half City were given the chance to take the lead, when Fernando Amorebieta brought down Alvaro Negredo inside the box.
Toure stepped up to take the spot kick and slotted the ball into the net, with Stockdale diving the wrong way.
Sascha Riether had an opportunity to respond for the visitors when he met Richardson's cross at the back post, but he could only place his header wide.
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Host City almost grabbed a second through David Silva, who burst into the box before chipping an effort over the keeper, but Amorebieta got back to clear the ball off the line.
Aleksandar Kolarov was inches away from finding the net in the final minute of the first half when he was slipped into the area by Negredo, but he smashed his strike against the bar.
Fulham's chances of getting back into the game suffered a blow shortly after the break when Amorebieta gave away another penalty for hacking down Silva inside the box and was sent off for picking up a second yellow card.
Toure was tasked with taking the penalty kick once more, and he kept his composure to slot the ball into the bottom corner to double his side's lead.
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In the 65th minute the Blues scored their third of the afternoon, as Toure was played the ball short from a free kick, before bending a strike into the top corner past Stockdale to complete his hat-trick.
City were in complete control as Kolarov had a long-range strike beaten away by the keeper, before Martin Demichelis saw a header cleared off the line.
With six minutes of the game left, Fernandinho grabbed a fourth goal for the hosts with a powerful drive into the top corner following a well-worked corner kick.
It was soon five, as Demichelis tapped home at the back post after Stevan Jovetic's shot had been parried by the keeper to seal a comfortable home win.
Alex Meyers
