Chelsea shattered Manchester City’s unbeaten Premier League record with a 2–1 win at Stamford Bridge on Monday. The victory closes the gap between the two clubs to seven points, whereas it would have been an almost unbridgeable 13 points had Chelsea lost.
City remains on top but are now only two points clear of local rivals Manchester United.
Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas told the BBC after the game, “It was a good win and it changes our challenge for the Premier League. After our bad run we found confidence which grew game after game and we put on a very good show against the record-breaking league leaders.”
Chelsea central defender David Luiz was serving a suspension, so Branislav Ivanovic moved into the center to partner John Terry with Jose Bosingwa coming in at right back. Blues icon Frank Lampard was in the unfamiliar position of bench warmer.
Mercurial 21-year-old Italian star Mario Balotelli had fallen foul of his manger yet again after a spot of late night partying on the weekend. Nonetheless, Roberto Mancini opted to start his fellow countryman up front alongside Sergio Aguero.
James Milner’s more defensive qualities were preferred to Samir Nasri’s attacking flair, and Pablo Zabaleta deputized for the injured Micah Richards at right back.
The City manager’s team selections were duly vindicated in only the second minute of the game. A sublime turn and inch-perfect defense-splitting pass from Aguero found Balotelli on the run. The Italian still had plenty to do, but effortlessly eluded both Terry and Ivanovic before rounding Petr Cech and tapping the ball into an empty net.
City could have extended their lead nine minutes later, but Aguero dragged his shot wide after having done the all hard work in beating three defenders. Shortly after that David Silva had a confident penalty appeal turned down.
In fact for the first 20 minutes or so City looked a class apart. Their one touch passing was a delight to behold and you might almost have though it was Barcelona out there at times. This, notwithstanding the appalling weather conditions in west London, where there was a difficult strong swirling wind and pouring rain that barely let up during the entire 90 minutes.
With Mancini’s men dominant, Joe Hart in the City goal did not see action until the 25-minute mark when he was obliged to get down sharply and turn Didier Drogba’s shot around the post. But Chelsea did finally start to settle and string some passes together.
On 34 minutes, Daniel Sturridge came into his own for the first time in the game and put across a ball from the right which was expertly finished on the volley by Raul Meireles.
Chelsea Turns it Around
The hosts were probably fortunate to go in at the break on level terms, but they certainly began the second half much more purposefully. Sturridge was lively and struck a good opportunity over the top just two minutes after the restart. As the half progressed we began to see a lot more of Chelsea winger Juan Mata who treated the spectators to several lovely pieces of skill.
However, the turning point of the match came in the 58th minute when Ramires in full flow was crudely blocked by City full back Gael Clichy. The former Arsenal man had already been booked and therefore had to be sent off.
With Lampard on for Meireles, and a point to prove, Chelsea began to look the likely winners, though it was only eight minutes before the end that the breakthrough came. Joleon Lescott parried a shot from Sturridge with his arm and there was little doubt that a penalty kick was merited.
Despite Mata now being the assigned penalty taker, Lampard took responsibility and powered the ball home from the spot sending the Chelsea fans into dreamland.
Chelsea has now won three games in a row since the loss at home to Liverpool on Nov. 29. Meanwhile, City tasted defeat for the first time and it couldn’t come at a worse time. The big spenders were just knocked out of Champions League last Wednesday.
One had to feel there would be some bumps in the road for Manchester City.
