LAGOS APRIL 24TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Teenager Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice as Manchester City tuned up for their Champions League semifinal with Real Madrid by sinking Stoke City 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Iheanacho, 19, struck twice within 10 second-half minutes, adding to goals by Fernando and Sergio Aguero, to lift City, who host Madrid in the first leg of their last-four tie on Tuesday, back above Arsenal to third place.
“A big team must always be focused on both competitions – Premier League and Champions League,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini. “Every big team must do it every year.
“Kelechi Iheanacho is an important young player with a lot of future. He scores lots of goals, but he is not just a penalty-box player. I am sure that his role in this team will be very important.”
With an eye on Madrid’s visit, Pellegrini kept Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne on the bench at the Etihad Stadium and rested captain Vincent Kompany altogether.
Fernando broke the deadlock with a header from Jesus Navas’s 35th-minute corner and top scorer Aguero added a second from the penalty spot after Ryan Shawcross had fouled Iheanacho.
Pablo Zabaleta teed up Iheanacho to slot in City’s third goal in the 64th minute and the Nigeria international sealed the win by gathering Wilfried Bony’s pass and rounding substitute goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard to score.
City move back above Arsenal, who visit struggling Sunderland on Sunday, while Mark Hughes’s Stoke, who have conceded four goals in three successive games, slip to 10th.