VIDEO: Ivory Coast's Toure rescues 1-1 draw for Man City at Stoke

AP, Saturday 24 Mar 2012

Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure on target as Manchester City held 1-1 draw with Stoke City on Saturday

Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure smashed a long-range equalizer to salvage a 1-1 draw for Manchester City at Stoke on Saturday, handing the initiative to crosstown rival Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

Peter Crouch opened the scoring for Stoke after launching a dipping, 30-yard shot that flew into the top corner in the 59th minute before Toure rescued a point with a thumping drive from even further out in the 76th.

The draw put City ahead of United on goal difference though the latter has a game in hand. The defending champion hosts Fulham on Monday.

City, without injured top scorer Sergio Aguero, struggled to break down the Stoke defense and even Carlos Tevez—on as a 74th-minute substitute—was unable to inspire the visitors to victory.

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Stoke C. 1 - 1 Manchester C.

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