Soccer: Manchester City move to third

LONDON - Manchester City chalked up their seventh win in seven home English Premier League soccer games by beating Sunderland 1-0 today to climb back up to third in the table.

After a dire first half, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side upped the pace and made the breakthrough in the 67th minute when substitute Darius Vassell crossed from the left for midfielder Stephen Ireland to volley his first goal of the season.

The victory takes City to 25 points in the Premier League, one above Chelsea and two behind Manchester United and Arsenal.

Last season City won only five home games, scoring a top-flight record low of 10 goals. They have already surpassed both those marks less than a third of the way through this campaign.

- REUTERS