Manchester: Yaya Toure scored a hat-trick Saturday as Manchester City brushed aside last-place Fulham 5-0 to keep pace in the Premier League title race.
Toure converted two penalties in the 26th and 54th minute, both times after fouls by Fernando Amorebieta who was sent off after the second. City continued to push forward and Toure curled in his third goal in the 66th before being taken off to a standing ovation. Fernandinho fired in the fourth in the 84th and Martin Demichelis completed the rout four minutes later as the hosts climbed above Arsenal into third place.
City trail leader Chelsea by six points, but has three games in hand. Fulham remain last on 24 points, but are only four points from safety as their closest relegation rivals also lost.
In another match, Shane Long scored one goal and earned a penalty that led to the other as Hull beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in the Premier League on Saturday to take a big step toward avoiding relegation.
Long went down under light contact from Craig Dawson to earn a penalty in the first half, and Liam Rosenior headed home the rebound after Nikica Jelavic's spot kick was saved by Ben Foster in the 32nd minute. Long then secured the win against his former club six minutes later when he turned in a flick-on from Curtis Davies.
The win lift Hull to 12th place, eight points above the relegation zone as the bottom six teams all lost. West Brom are 16th, three points above the drop.
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