• Kelechi Iheanacho keeps Manchester City’s winning start to the season with a late goal at Selhurst Park
• Sergio Aguero went off injured from a Scott Dann tackle after 25 minutes, Kevin De Bruyne replacing him 
• Jesus Navas missed a tremendous chance to score after taking the ball past the keeper after 50 minutes  

By

Sami Mokbel for The Mail on Sunday

Published:
15:59 GMT, 12 September 2015

|
Updated:
00:32 GMT, 13 September 2015

Manuel Pellegrini may take a retrospective look at this in May and remember it as a pivotal afternoon in Manchester City’s triumphant title challenge.

Kelechi Iheanacho will remember it for altogether different reasons.

Introduced as a last-minute substitute for only his second senior appearance, the 18-year-old Nigerian hit a dramatic late winner with his first touch. 

Kelechi Iheanacho (centre) slots in the winner for Manchester City late on in the Premier League encounter at Selhurst Park

A jubilant Iheanacho wheels away in celebration after scoring moments after entering the game from the substitute’s bench

The 18-year-old substitute Iheanacho celebrates his winner in the final minute of the game between City and Palace

Iheanacho (second left) leads the celebrations after his late goal made it five wins from the first five games for City

TEAMS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

 

Crystal Palace (4-3-2-1): McCarthy 6.5; Kelly 6.5, Dann 7, Hangeland 6.5, Souare 7.5; McArthur 7.5, Puncheon 7 (Chung-yong 83, 6), Cabaye 7; Zaha 7, Sako 6.5 (Gayle 68, 6.5); Bolasie 7 (Jedinak 80)

Subs not used: Mariappa, Campbell, Hennessey, Mutch. 

Booked: Dann, Hangeland

Manager: Alan Pardew, 7

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart 7; Sagna 7, Kompany 8, Mangala 7, Kolarov 6.5; Fernandinho 6.5, Toure 7; Nasri 7 (Demichelis 90), Bony 6.5 (Iheanacho 89, 7), Navas 6.5; Agüero 6 (De Bruyne 25, 7)

Subs not used: Caballero, Roberts, Otamendi, Garcia. 

Goal: Iheanacho, 90 

Booked: Mangala, Toure, Nasri

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini, 7.5 

Referee: Mike Jones

 Att: 25,167

The Premier League table on the full-time whistle at Selhurst Park

 

Our fantastic MATCH ZONE shows Iheanacho’s goal – click here for more Premier League analysis 

He wheeled away, pointing to the heavens in disbelief. His manager may have said a prayer of his own as City extended their lead at the Premier League summit and maintained their perfect start.

Before Iheanacho’s heroics, this clash would have been remembered for yet another ugly touchline spat between Pellegrini and Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew. 

But that would be unfair on Iheanacho; this was his moment. Pellegrini has been criticised for failing to replace the departed Edin Dzeko with another support striker, but the Chilean insists there is method in his perceived madness.

‘He’s [Iheanacho] one of the reasons I didn’t bring another striker in when we sold Edin Dzeko,’ said Pellegrini. ‘He’s an important player for us and will be a very important player for the future. He deserves that chance. It was important he took that chance.’

City were boosted ahead of kick-off knowing victory would open up an 11 point gap over champions Chelsea following their loss at Everton. ‘It’s important to have a good start, to have 15 from five games,’ added Pellegrini. ‘We’re not just playing against Chelsea though.’

It wasn’t all good news, as Sergio Aguero suffered a knee injury after a late tackle by Scott Dann to make him a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Juventus. However, he later said on Twitter: ‘I got a hard hit but it doesn’t seem to be serious.’

Pellegrini is hopeful Raheem Sterling and David Silva, who missed the trip to Selhurst Park, with respective hamstring and ankle injuries, will be fit to feature against the Italians. Despite their absence, Pellegrini resisted the temptation to hand Kevin De Bruyne an instant debut, the £54million man starting on the bench. 

Jesus Navas (centre) took the ball around Alex McCarthy of Palace but could not hit the back of the net with the goal gaping

Navas looks on in horror after ending a brilliant weaving run by shooting wide of an open goal from inside the penalty area

A dejected Navas contemplates the consequence of his humiliating miss as City struggled to get a goal against Palace

Samir Nasri reacts after also missing a chance to score for City as Palace’s stubborn defence held strong under pressure

Home keeper Alex McCarthy denied Samir Nasri, who was set up by Yaya Toure’s inch-perfect lofted free-kick, with a brave save inside six minutes.

But Palace had come flying out of the blocks. Yannick Bolasie missed two early opportunities, before Pape Souare’s swinging volley flew narrowly wide in the 11th minute. There was gusto in Palace’s early play, illustrating why Pardew’s side has earned rave reviews so far this season. However, Dann overstepped the mark in the 17th minute and the defender was lucky to stay on the field after fouling Aguero.

The Argentine struggled on until being substituted in the 25th minute, when he was promptly fitted with an ice pack on his right knee.

Pellegrini had other worries, too, namely, how to spark City out of their early malaise. His mood certainly wasn’t helped by De Bruyne’s ambling approach to coming on, Pellegrini berating the Belgian for taking what seemed like an eternity to get himself ready.

Pardew was then livid with Yaya Toure’s rash challenge on James McArthur and proceeded to stomp into Pellegrini’s technical area to make his point. Already at boiling point, Pellegrini grabbed his rival before the pair were separated by fourth official Roger East.

The flashpoint evoked memories of a similar incident between the two at St James’ Park in 2014, when Pardew was Newcastle boss.

Eventually they shook hands here, but it was a token gesture.

It seemed to cajole City into action, though, as De Bruyne showed glimpses of why City had paid such a princely sum to lure him from Germany, supplying Wilfried Bony and Nasri with opportunities.

Barring an early, deflected Bolasie strike that arrowed narrowly past Joe Hart’s post, City were relatively untroubled.

De Bruyne’s brilliant first-time through ball set Jesus Navas clear in the 51st minute. But having rounded McCarthy, the Spaniard somehow managed to miss the target with the goal gaping.

Jason Puncheon saw his bullet header from Souare’s cross saved in the 70th minute before substitute Dwight Gayle missed the target from close range for Palace.But, as the clash entered injury-time, Iheanacho made himself an instant hero, steering in Nasri’s low shot that was initially saved by McCarthy. The stuff of dreams.

Sergio Aguero (left) of Manchester City went off injured after a challenge by Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann in the 25th minute

Aguero’s injury increases City’s woes, as they began the game without attacking midfielders David Silva and Raheem Sterling

The Argentina striker Aguero was replaced by Kevin De Bruyne, as the Belgium attacker made his City debut at Selhurst Park

Aguero (top left) was in clear discomfort as he sat on the bench at Selhurst Park after being substituted by City

De Bruyne was played just behind striker Wilfried Bony for City but the game was goalless at the half-time interval

De Bruyne (right) showed glimpses of why City parted with £54million to bring him to the club from German side Wolfsburg

Palace manager Alan Pardew (second left) comes to blows with City boss Manuel Pellegrini on the touchline 

Managers Pardew and Pellegrini have clashed in the past and tempers flared in the first half between the duo

City defender Eliaquim Mangala (left) shields the ball while under pressure from Palace attacker Yannick Bolasie 

City attacker Bony (right) is sent tumbling by Palace winger Wilfried Zaha in a fiercely contested second half on Saturday 

Bolasie (right) provided plenty for Antonio Kolarov (left) of City to think about at Selhurst Park but could not make his pressure pay

Toure (centre) lets fly from range for City as the Ivory Cost midfield player attempts to haul his side into the lead against Palace

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