MANCHESTER CITY 2, CHELSEA 1
Manchester City beat Chelsea 2-1 with goals by N’Golo Kante, Kevin De Bruyne, and Riyad Mahrez but Raheem Sterling had a 93rd minute goal ruled out for offside in more VAR drama.
N’Golo Kante’s early goal was quickly cancelled out by Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected strike while a superb bit of skill by Riyad Mahrez gave City the lead which they held on to despite a challenging game by Chelsea.
Victory was costly though, as City potentially lost Rodri, David Silva and Sergio Aguero to injuries but kept pace with league leaders Liverpool in a tough encounter at the Etihad.
The 6 goal thrashing doled out by City to a naive Maurizio Sarri Chelsea in February was ancient history as Frank Lampard’s Chelsea turned up younger, hungrier, and tactically more astute.
City were already troubled by Chelsea’s pace but an open game had seen shots go wide from Kevin De Bruyne and Willian before Frank Lampard’s side struck.
After an intense start, City’s lack of pace at the back was undone by a well weighted ball over the top by Mateo Kovacic which N’Golo Kante ran onto from midfield, outpacing Benjamin Mendy before turning and taking advantage of a deflected shot off Mendy’s leg to beat Ederson after 22 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne levelled after City took advantage of two unlucky deflections by Kurt Zouma 7 minutes later.
David Silva’s cross was deflected out as far as De Bruyne by the French defender whose attempt to get back across to make another block only resulted in another deflection to wrongfoot Kepa Arrizabalaga as he tried to save the Belgian’s shot.
De Bruyne also hit a shot over the bar before Riyard Mahrez produced a great goal after cutting in from the right in between Emerson and Kovacic after getting a great ball from Rodri before threading the ball through Fikayo Tomori’s legs to put City into the lead.
Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Rodri injuries could impact Manchester City title race
Aguero was denied a penalty after he fell over following a soft challenge with Tomori shortly before half time and he hit the crossbar after reacting first to a poor ball out by Kepa.
The Argentine also found himself in space for a snap shot and Cancelo shot over the bar as well.
Mahrez tried his luck from the edge of the area, sending a shot wide after the restart following a mazy run.
Kante’s shot was blocked by Fernandinho after Cesar Azpilicueta’s cut back but City had the game under control, Phil Foden had two chances to score, until Aguero picked up a late injury and was replaced by Gabriel Jesus.
Willian’s volley was fingertipped over the bar by Ederson while the Brazilian didn’t help City jitters by hitting a clearance against Michy Batshuayi and seeing the rebound fly over his crossbar.
Chelsea broke free with a defence splitting ball to Kante in injury time and Gundogan took a booking to cynically stop the Frenchman 30 yards out.
Mason Mount fired the free kick wide of the Ederson’s right post.
But there was still late drama to come after Sterling thought that he had scored after turning and firing a shot in that Kepa couldn’t hold onto but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Chelsea 1
Ederson: 6. Wrong footed by N’Golo Kante goal. Saw a clearance come off Michy Batshuayi and over his goal in the second half.
Joao Cancelo: 6. Had a shot blocked on the line by Azpilicueta. Good range of passing but was caught out for Kante goal.
John Stones: 6. His confidence seems to be returning but was still caught out by the ball over the top by Chelsea for their first half goal.
Fernandinho: 8. Caught out by the ball over the top for N’Golo Kante’s goal. Put in strong performance after that, working hard to deny Tammy Abraham as Chelsea pushed City hard.
Benjamin Mendy: 6. Seemed to be playing more defensively but outpaced by N’Golo Kante for Chelsea’s early goal.
Rodri: 6. Bypassed by Chelsea’s balls over the top, he still created Riyad Mahrez’ goal but was taken off early in the second half.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Coming back into form, great movement and struck a deflected goal to get City level.
David Silva: 7. Scheming from midfield. His cross deflected to Kevin De Bruyne for City’s equaliser but he went down midway through the second half with cramp and was replaced by Phil Foden.
Riyad Mahrez: 8. Overcame a poor back pass early which put City in trouble to score an excellent goal, with mazy runs, and could have had a second in the second half but for a save by Kepa. Thought he had assisted Raheem Sterling’s goal but VAR ruled it out.
Raheem Sterling: 6. Quiet early on, saw more of him as the game went on in fits and starts. Chelsea brought on Reece James to combat him in the second half. Thought he had scored in injury time but VAR ruled it out for offside.
Sergio Aguero: 6. Almost snatched a goal after intercepting Kepa’s poor ball out from the back but hit the crossbar. Drew Chelsea defenders to him. Picked up a late injury.
Ilkay Gundogan (for Rodri, 52) 6. Gave City more passing options in midfield after replacing Rodri who was only just back from injury.
Phil Foden (for David Silva, 67): 6. Added more energy to City’s midfield, had a couple of shots and got into good forward positions.
Gabriel Jesus (for Sergio Aguero 76): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Chelsea 1
Man City 0, Chelsea 1: 22. A ball over the top by Mateo Kovacic which N’Golo Kante ran onto with Benjamin Mendy in pursuit. The final ball was scruffy, deflecting off Mendy’s leg but rolled over the line with Ederson beaten
Man City 1, Chelsea 1: 29. David Silva’s cross came off Kurt Zouma and fell to Kevin De Bruyne who levelled after his shot was deflected past Kepa by the luckless Zouma again who was trying to get back across.
Man City 2, Chelsea 1: 37. Riyad Mahrez cut inside between Emerson and Kovacic and slotted home from 12 yards after Rodri found him with a pass from midfield.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Chelsea 1
Man City: Ederson, Cancelo, Stones, Fernandinho, Mendy, Rodri (Gundogan 52), De Bruyne, David Silva (Foden 67), Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero (Jesus 76)
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Walker, Angelino, Otamendi
Booked: Gundogan 90+1 (foul on N’Golo Kante)
Goals: De Bruyne 29, Mahrez 37
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Emerson (James 59), Jorginho (Mount 74), Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Pulisic, Abraham (Batshuayi)
Chelsea Subs not used: Caballero, Christensen, Pedro, Giroud
Booked: Jorginho 61 (foul on Kevin De Bruyne)
Goal: Kante 22
Referee: Martin Atkinson