The Manchester City juggernaut suffered it’s first league defeat on Monday when the Citizens fell to a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Mario Balotelli opened the scoring in the second minute for City, before Raul Meireles equalized for Chelsea before half-time. The game was settled by an 83rd minute penalty from England international midfielder Frank Lampard.
The result cuts City’s lead at the top of the table to two points over second placed Manchester United. Chelsea have lifted themselves up to third with the win, and have revived their own campaign after a stuttering run of form.
Things started well for City, and they took a lead in only the second minute courtesy of a finely worked goal.
Sergio Aguero left Chelsea defender John Terry trailing in his wake before threading a superb pass through to Balotelli. The young Italian striker held off Branislav Ivanovic, before rounding the goalkeeper to roll the ball into an unguarded net.
The always entertaining Balotelli reacted to his goal by staring down the Chelsea fans in a stony faced celebration.
The livewire Aguero continued to threaten on the break, and went close to doubling the City lead at the 14-minute mark. The Argentina striker wrong-footed Jose Bosingwa, before beating Ashley Cole only to send his shot wide of the target.
City then had a penalty appeal turned down, when David Silva was apparently fouled in the box by Bosingwa. The decision to not give City a spot kick drew the ire of City manager Roberto Mancini in his post-game interview.
City continued to dominate possession throughout the first half, but Chelsea stuck manfully to their task and were rewarded with an equalizer 11 minutes before the break.
Daniel Sturridge collected the ball out wide, and the young English striker beat Gael Clichy before sending over a teasing cross that Meireles volleyed home.
Sturridge almost scored again just a minute after the restart, but blazed over after being set up by a Juan Mata free kick.
Clichy had conceded the free kick by felling Sturridge and receiving a yellow card. Clichy would be dismissed for his second yellow card just over 10 minutes later when he was penalized for bringing down Ramires.
Chelsea were galvanized by receiving a man advantage, and in the 73rd minute Andre Villas-Boas introduced eventual match winner Lampard off the bench.
City manager Mancini gave the impression he would settle for a point, when during the last half hour he withdrew Silva and Aguero, and replaced them with the more defensive options of Nigel De Jong and Kolo Toure.
Sturridge had been impressive all night, and won the decisive penalty in the 83rd minute when his shot hit the raised hand of defender Joleon Lescott.
Lampard stepped up to hammer the penalty past Joe Hart to spark wild celebrations among the Stamford Bridge faithful.
After the final whistle the two managers displayed very different emotions. A “very happy” Villas-Boas claimed the Chelsea’s title bid was “back on track.”
On the other end of the scale, a spiteful City boss Mancini complained about the failed first half penalty appeal.
“It was probably because it was raining and cold that he didn’t see the penalty because all the stadium saw the penalty, only he missed it,” fumed Mancini.
Mancini must lift his players as soon as possible, as their next game is a Premier League clash against in-form Arsenal this Sunday.
Chelsea face a trip to relegation strugglers Wigan Athletic, and will be looking to keep up the pressure on City by picking up three more points.
LINEUPS
CHE – Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Bosingwa, Terry, Romeu, Ramires, Meireles (Lampard 73), Mata (Malouda 84), Drogba, Sturridge (Mikel 88).
MAN – Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Lescott (Dzeko 85), Clichy, Milner, Barry, Silva (De Jong 75), Y Toure, Aguero (K Toure 64), Balotelli.
SCORING SUMMARY
MAN – Mario Balotelli (Sergio Aguero) 2’
CHE – Raul Meireles (Daniel Sturridge) 34’
CHE – Frank Lampard (penalty kick) 83’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).
Attendance: 41, 730
The result cuts City’s lead at the top of the table to two points over second placed Manchester United. Chelsea have lifted themselves up to third with the win, and have revived their own campaign after a stuttering run of form.
Things started well for City, and they took a lead in only the second minute courtesy of a finely worked goal.
Sergio Aguero left Chelsea defender John Terry trailing in his wake before threading a superb pass through to Balotelli. The young Italian striker held off Branislav Ivanovic, before rounding the goalkeeper to roll the ball into an unguarded net.
The always entertaining Balotelli reacted to his goal by staring down the Chelsea fans in a stony faced celebration.
The livewire Aguero continued to threaten on the break, and went close to doubling the City lead at the 14-minute mark. The Argentina striker wrong-footed Jose Bosingwa, before beating Ashley Cole only to send his shot wide of the target.
City then had a penalty appeal turned down, when David Silva was apparently fouled in the box by Bosingwa. The decision to not give City a spot kick drew the ire of City manager Roberto Mancini in his post-game interview.
City continued to dominate possession throughout the first half, but Chelsea stuck manfully to their task and were rewarded with an equalizer 11 minutes before the break.
Daniel Sturridge collected the ball out wide, and the young English striker beat Gael Clichy before sending over a teasing cross that Meireles volleyed home.
Sturridge almost scored again just a minute after the restart, but blazed over after being set up by a Juan Mata free kick.
Clichy had conceded the free kick by felling Sturridge and receiving a yellow card. Clichy would be dismissed for his second yellow card just over 10 minutes later when he was penalized for bringing down Ramires.
Chelsea were galvanized by receiving a man advantage, and in the 73rd minute Andre Villas-Boas introduced eventual match winner Lampard off the bench.
City manager Mancini gave the impression he would settle for a point, when during the last half hour he withdrew Silva and Aguero, and replaced them with the more defensive options of Nigel De Jong and Kolo Toure.
Sturridge had been impressive all night, and won the decisive penalty in the 83rd minute when his shot hit the raised hand of defender Joleon Lescott.
Lampard stepped up to hammer the penalty past Joe Hart to spark wild celebrations among the Stamford Bridge faithful.
After the final whistle the two managers displayed very different emotions. A “very happy” Villas-Boas claimed the Chelsea’s title bid was “back on track.”
On the other end of the scale, a spiteful City boss Mancini complained about the failed first half penalty appeal.
“It was probably because it was raining and cold that he didn’t see the penalty because all the stadium saw the penalty, only he missed it,” fumed Mancini.
Mancini must lift his players as soon as possible, as their next game is a Premier League clash against in-form Arsenal this Sunday.
Chelsea face a trip to relegation strugglers Wigan Athletic, and will be looking to keep up the pressure on City by picking up three more points.
LINEUPS
CHE – Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Bosingwa, Terry, Romeu, Ramires, Meireles (Lampard 73), Mata (Malouda 84), Drogba, Sturridge (Mikel 88).
MAN – Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Lescott (Dzeko 85), Clichy, Milner, Barry, Silva (De Jong 75), Y Toure, Aguero (K Toure 64), Balotelli.
SCORING SUMMARY
MAN – Mario Balotelli (Sergio Aguero) 2’
CHE – Raul Meireles (Daniel Sturridge) 34’
CHE – Frank Lampard (penalty kick) 83’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).
Attendance: 41, 730
