Tevez nets two goals as City plays to a draw

BOLTON, England - Carlos Tevez scored twice as Manchester City battled back from being down three times to secure a 3-3 Premier League draw with the Bolton Wanderers here on Saturday. The result was City’s eighth draw in their last nine league games and came hot on the heels of last weekend’s 2-1 win over leaders Chelsea.

But City fans may well have felt grateful for a point when Tevez made it 3-3 after fellow striker Craig Bellamy was controversially sent off for diving. Ivan Klasnic opened the scoring for Bolton, who remained in the bottom three, in the 11th minute despite a suspicion of offside before former Manchester United striker Tevez levelled Gary Cahill’s curler only for Micah Richards to equalize for City.

Klasnic’s second goal, a well-struck shot, made it 3-2 to Bolton and then City lost Bellamy before Argentina international Tevez’s long-range strike gave the visitors a draw at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton went ahead when Lee Chung-Yong’s deflected shot fell into the path of Klasnic, who looked to be in an offside position. But play continued and the Croatian made no mistake in front of goal. The assist was Korean midfielder’s third of the season and second assist in league play.

City responded when Tevez’s shot deflected off Bolton midfielder Tamir Cohen and looped over goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. But Bolton pulled in front again when Cahill, receiving a throw-in on the edge of the box, struck a superb 43rd minute curler.

However, on the stroke of half-time, City were level again when Richards crowned a fine team move with a cool finish past Jaaskelainen. Thoughts that Bolton might be deflated by that goal were allayed early in the second period when Cahill flicked on Paul Robinson’s cross and Klasnic beat Shay Given with a shot on the turn.

Wales international Bellamy was then dismissed by referee Mark Clattenburg for diving after he went down under the challenge of Robinson. AFP