Clinical Chelsea fire title warning with win at shambolic Manchester City
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 03/12/2016 at 16:23 GMT
Premier League, Etihad Stadium - Manchester City 1 (Cahill o.g. 45+1, Aguero s/o 90+6, Fernandinho s/o 90+6) Chelsea 3 (Costa 60, Willian 70, Hazard 90)
Diego Costa celebrates scoring Chelsea's equaliser
Image credit: Reuters
Chelsea executed the perfect smash and grab raid to beat Manchester City 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium and win their eighth straight Premier League game.
City deservedly led through a comical Gary Cahill own goal in first half stoppage time but were unable to take advantage of their dominance as they ripped through a fragile Chelsea back line.
But their lack of ruthlessness cost them dear as Kevin De Bruyne hit the bar from close range for City just before the hour mark. Moments later Chelsea were level, with Diego Costa plundering his 11th Premier League goal of the season.
Suddenly Chelsea oozed menace, and when another City attack broke down, they twisted the knife - they broke at pace and the excellent Costa set up Willian who shot low past Claudio Bravo.
Eden Hazard added gloss to the scoreline in the dying minutes, and as frustration boiled over Sergio Aguero was sent off for a wild challenge on David Luiz - an offence that will earn him a four-match suspension, and Fernandinho also saw red.
Chelsea moved four points clear pending Arsenal's game at West Ham later on Saturday.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/12/03/1980568-41606847-2560-1440.jpg)
Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 3, 2016
Image credit: AFP
TALKING POINT
Should David Luiz have seen red? Anthony Taylor dished out two cards to City in the closing stages but Pep Guardiola will feel the bizarre decision not to show David Luiz his marching orders in the first-half ultimately cost his side dear. City were well on top when the defender clearly fouled Sergio Aguero to deny the Argentine a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Had Taylor opted to reduce Chelsea to 10 men, it’s difficult to see how the visitors would have recovered.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Diego Costa (Chelsea) – Barely had a touch in the first-half but proved a real menace after the restart, grabbing the equaliser, his 11th of the campaign, and providing the second for Willian.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/12/03/1980541-41606307-2560-1440.jpg)
Diego Costa equalises for Chelsea against Manchester City
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester City: Bravo 5, Otamendi 6, Stones 5, Kolarov 6, Fernandinho 6, Gundogan 6, Navas 7, Sane 6, De Bruyne 7, Silva 7, Aguero 6. Subs: Clichy 5, Toure 5, Iheanacho 5.
Chelsea: Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 8, David Luiz 8, Cahill 6; Moses 8, Kante 7, Fabregas 8, Alonso 7; Pedro 6, Diego Costa 9, Hazard 8. Subs: Willian 7, Batshuayi N/A, Chalobah N/A.
KEY MOMENTS
14’ - JUST WIDE! Hazard is inches away from opening the scoring! The ball falls kindly to the Belgian on the edge of the area, he keeps his effort low but it's just wide of the post. Some of the crowd thought it was in.
25’ - GOAL RULED OUT! De Bruyne delivers a brilliant free-kick into the penalty area, finding Fernandinho who heads City into the lead. However, the celebrations are premature, the Brazilian was just offside.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/12/03/1980510-41605687-2560-1440.jpg)
Fernandinho's header was disallowed for offside
Image credit: Reuters
29’ – BIG CALL! Aguero appears to be obstructed by David Luiz when through on goal but the referee dubiously waves play on, much to the frustration of the home supporters.
42’ - SO CLOSE! City should be ahead. De Bruyne delivers yet another deadly cross, picking out Aguero whose diving header goes inches wide of the post with Courtois beaten.
45’ - GOAL! City finally have the breakthrough as Cahill puts the ball into the back of his own net from a Jesus Navas cross. It's quite the finish - unfortunately it's at the wrong end!
53’ - CHANCE! Alonso's short back-pass causes his side all kinds of problems as Aguero sneaks in but the Argentine is denied by Cahill who clears on the line!
60’ - GOAL! Against the run of play, Chelsea equalise! Costa scores his 11th goal of the season with a delightful goal. He takes down a great Fabregas pass, shrugs off Otamendia and slides the ball into the bottom corner.
70’ - GOAL - Chelsea have the lead! Willian scores from a fantastic counter-attack started by Hazard who fed Costa, he held the ball up superbly and found the substitute who completed the move as he coolly slides a shot past Bravo.
90’ - GOAL! Game, set and match - Hazard seals the deal for Chelsea. It comes from another counter-attack as the Belgian races onto a long ball from Alonso, he speeds past Kolarov and fires a shot past Bravo.
90’+ 5 - RED CARD! Aguero has been sent-off for a really poor challenge on David Luiz. Oh dear, Manchester City. This has been a second-half to forget.
90’+ 6 - ANOTHER RED CARD! And now Fernandinho is sent off after he pushes Fabregas over the advertising hoardings.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/12/03/1980571-41606907-2560-1440.jpg)
Chelsea coaches try to restrain Manchester City's Fernandinho
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
Manchester City are the first team to be given two red cards in a single Premier League game this season.
This is the first time that Man City have lost a home league game that they were leading in since April 2009 v Fulham (1-3).
Chelsea scored with each of their first three shots on target in this game against Manchester City.
Since Boxing Day 2015, Diego Costa has had a hand in 30 goals in 28 Premier League appearances (20 goals, 10 assists).
Diego Costa has now scored against 20 different teams in the Premier League (of the 23 that he's faced in the competition)
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/12/03/1980579-41607067-2560-1440.jpg)
Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Willian holds up his black armband as he celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England,
Image credit: AFP
MATCH IN A TWEET
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article