Man City 1-3 Chelsea

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Manchester City 1 - 3 Chelsea F.C.

September 13 2008, Premier League, City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester



A stunning Chelsea performance bought Manchester City back down to earth with a devastating display at Eastlands.

Following a two-week international break, the high-flying West London outfit were keen to put the disappointments of their last Premier League outing - at home to Tottenham in a 1-1 stalemate - far behind them. Despite falling behind to a delightful Robinho free kick, the Premier League leaders battled back to equalise through Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho, who lashed home from close range, before Frank Lampard capped off a scintillating move by taking on Richard Dunne before finding the net with an astute finish. Former City player Nicolas Anelka completed the rout emphatically, beating Joe Hart from 12 yards after Joe Cole had slid the Frenchman through, keeping Chelsea at the summit of the league table.

However, their preparation for the massive game at City was not without difficulties, as the Blues lost both Michael Ballack and Michael Essien to injury, the latter, unfortunately, for up to six months with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. However, Didier Drogba was fit enough to start on the substitutes bench, as Luiz Felipe Scolari made two changes to the side that began the game against Spurs; Mikel John Obi was fit again and replaced the crocked Essien, and Florent Malouda replaced goalscoring hero Juliano Belletti.

Shaun Wright-Phillips started for City, making his Eastlands bow against the team he had just transferred from, and as if in some cruel twist of fate and irony, Robinho made his debut against the team many had expected him to join - not least the Brazilian himself, who had to be reminded he had joined Manchester City and not Chelsea, in a recent interview.

City were adventurous in the opening exchanges and the home fans were in great voice, challenging the excellent Chelsea visiting support to create a cauldron of noise. The home side were the first to react to such an atmosphere, and soon found their feet in the game. On thirteen minutes, Ricardo Carvalho apparently brought down Jo on the edge of the penalty area, giving City the perfect opportunity to take the lead.

Robinho stepped up, ushering away his teammates. Chelsea knew what was coming but the slightest of deflections off a poor defensive wall saw the Brazilian's effort directed into the bottom corner beyond the rooted Petr Cech, off of Mikel's head. The City of Manchester Stadium erupted, and the delighted Robinho had a smile on his face that was almost as wide as his wallet. The home fans were jubilant, and taunted Chelsea with money-related jibes and chants.

However, these premature celebrations - barely fifteen minutes in - were short-lived, as the away side reminded who exactly was top of the Premier League tree. Shaun Wright-Phillips denied Anelka with an excellent block, and from the resulting corner the black-kitted Chelsea team got a foothold in the game. Terry's header hit Joe Cole, whose inadvertent knock-down allowed Carvalho to make amends for his 'poor tackle,' by bulleting the ball past Joe Hart from ten yards. It was a goal a certain Didier Drogba would have been happy with, but it was clear the Blues were not to be content until they sent out a clear message to the Premier League.

They were relentless in their attacking play, penning City in their own half for prolonged periods. Joe Cole's magnificent cross was met by Florent Malouda moments later, but the Frenchman's header crashed off the crossbar and into the waiting hands of Hart in the home goal. His compatriot, Anelka, fared little better, but his effort at least brought a save out of the young English goalkeeper.

City were not without chances of their own, and neat interplay almost lead to a second goal for the home side. An effort by Jo was blocked, before the same player combined with Stephen Ireland, but the latter lashed over from 18 yards when in a decent shooting position, but Chelsea were looking impressive and excellent defensive performances from Carvalho and Terry, coupled with the brilliance of Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa and Florent Malouda on the wings, meant that the Blues were in control and looking dangerous on the counter.

They underlined that on 53 minutes, when Frank Lampard steered the ball home from 14 yards on his left foot. Jose Bosingwa intercepted a stray pass, before feeding Mikel, who played the ball to Lampard. Beginning a driving run from inside his own half, Lampard played a clever one-two with Malouda, before taking the ball around Richard Dunne and Micah Richards before netting his second goal of the season, and continuing his goal-scoring trend against Manchester City. It was a phenomenal goal that Barcelona would have been proud of, and a lead no-one could argue the visitors did not deserve. Moments beforehand, they could have had a penalty for a shove on Anelka in the City box, but the referee waved away Chelsea protests.

Yet the home side were looking dangerous themselves, and but for a brilliant challenge by Ricardo Carvalho, they would surely have been level. Wright-Phillips found Ashley Cole out of position, and beating John Terry, looked to find Ireland, but his shot was blocked just in time by the Portuguese defender, who flung a right boot to deflect the ball over.

Chelsea effectively wrapped up the victory on 69 minutes, when Deco fed Malouda, who in turn found Joe Cole. It was a brilliant piece of individual skill by the Frenchman, flicking the ball over his head before playing a pass that gave Cole the time and room to execute the perfect final ball. The England winger delivered with aplomb; threading the ball through to Anelka who slotted the ball beyond Hart to score against his old club and continue his good early-season form. It was another tremendous goal that demonstrated the Blues' fabulous attacking ability.

It was only a piece of daft refereeing that spoilt Chelsea's day, as skipper Terry was sent off for a cynical foul. An earlier incident in the Liverpool-Manchester United match that saw Nemanja Vidic trip Robbie Keane when clean-through with no obvious covering defender, leading to a yellow card. Terry clearly man-handled Jo after the striker intercepted a stray Deco pass, but the referee deemed Terry to be the last man despite Jo being over 40 metres from goal and Jose Bosingwa and Carvalho both covering the Chelsea captain. Sent off, the Blues skipper will now miss their crunch game against Manchester United next weekend, though there is more than likely set to be an appeal for the wrongful dismissal of the number 26.

Despite the loss of their leader, the Blues demonstrated the class to play the remaining twelve minutes out with minimum fuss, as Scolari's side held out for an impressive display.
___________________________________________________________________

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Ball (Sturridge), Wright-Phillips, Hamann (Fernandes), Kompany, Ireland, Robinho, Jo
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Deco, Joe Cole (Belletti), Anelka (Alex da Costa), Malouda (Drogba)

Attendance: 47,331

Star Man : Ricardo Carvalho

Edited September 14, 2008 by BlueLion

[Guest Lampards Bitch]

I voted for Ashley. I thought he was brilliant yesterday in defending and attacking. Actually he deserved a goal him self lol

[Elliott 7]

Why are you criticising Carvalho for giving away the foul repeatedly when he didn't even make any contact?

[Ollie 4,400]

Lampard was outstanding yesterday, he should be in the poll. Ashley was our best player but Frank was a close second. Carvalho didnt make contact but there was no need to go to ground like he did. It was a clear foul because he still went through the player without touching the ball.

Edited September 14, 2008 by OllieCFC

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Why are you criticising Carvalho for giving away the foul repeatedly when he didn't even make any contact?

I used the juxtaposition of his tackle and his goal to make the goal seem like more of an achievement, its called biased journalism

[Elliott 7]

He didn't go through the player, he didn't touch the player. No contact, no foul. Player fell over or dived.

And that's just silly Alex. Don't be another lying scum journalist.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I was joking This bit:

Terry's header hit Joe Cole, whose inadvertent knock-down allowed Carvalho to make amends for his poor tackle

Is meant to be sarcastic. I'll throw in some italics

[Gianfranco_Z 202]

Where is Lampard in the poll!?! he was 2nd to none!

[Guest Lampards Bitch]

Lampard was outstanding yesterday, he should be in the poll. Ashley was our best player but Frank was a close second. Carvalho didnt make contact but there was no need to go to ground like he did. It was a clear foul because he still went through the player without touching the ball.

It was never a foul. Not in a million years.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Where is Lampard in the poll!?! he was 2nd to none!

It would have been a landslide vote in favour of Lamps if I'd have included him Was absolutely brilliant yesterday, but these threads are meant to be used for you to give your own ratings, the poll is a means for me to see how many readers I get more than anything

[Badboy 1,526]

Lampard was fantastic he would of been my choice.

[DavidEU 2,023]

I went for Ash, but could have easily been Mikel, Frank or Riccy too.

[Gianfranco_Z 202]

I understand so instead of a motm it's more of a 'out of these players, who did the best'.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Correct