English Premier League Latest: Carlos Tevez strike ends
Chelsea’s unbeaten Premier League start
A Carlos Tevez goal handed champions Chelsea their first defeat of the Premier League season here on Saturday as Manchester City ran out victors at Eastlands.
Just one day after City manager Roberto Mancini decreed that Carlo Ancelotti's team would repeat last year’s triumph, he saw his own club halt the progress of the London club who were comfortable winners in their opening five games.
Mancini's pre-match assertion, whether intended as an exercise or a "mind game", certainly created a stir as the City manager claimed that the visitors would defend their Premier League title "easily."
This attitude seemingly also extended to Mancini's team selection, as he took on a defensive approach with Tevez as the solitary striker. And it came as no surprise that the few first-half chances that were created fell predominantly
to the visitors.
Mancini felt his team did well to stop Chelsea scoring. "After five games they scored 21 goals. Chelsea are a fantastic team. Our guys today played a strong, strong match," the Italian said on Sky Sports 2.
He added, “We closed all the space for them and when we had the chance we played football."
Ancelotti admitted City deserved the victory. He said, “We didn't play how we wanted. We suffered from the pressure in midfield Man City put on us. We didn't have the possibility to show our quality.”
He went on to state, “Man City had a very good performance. In midfield they used a lot of power. Man City deserved to win. Man City have a lot of quality to fight for the title.”
Chelsea were the more fluent side initially and went closest before the break when defender Branislav Ivanovic headed against the woodwork and then saw his follow-up effort saved by Joe Hart.
Immediately after the break, Nicolas Anelka forced a fine low save from Hart while at the other end David Silva forced a rare save from Petr Cech with a first-time shot from a tight angle.
City's winner came completely out of the blue.
There seemed to be no danger when Yaya Toure passed to Tevez inside his own half but the Argentine sped through Chelsea territory - with Chelsea defender Ashley Cole backing away furiously - before beating Petr Cech with a superb
18-yard strike that flew in off the inside of the left-hand post.
Ancelotti was clearly stunned by the Tevez goal, coming, as it did, largely against the run of play. Yet, if he was expecting a committed response from his champions, there was none forthcoming especially after a disgruntled Didier
Drogba was substituted.
In fact, Yaya Toure might have doubled the lead as he weaved his way into the Chelsea area, just losing his balance before he could get off a close-range shot. The visitors themselves were limited by dogged defending to long-range
shots.
Chelsea substitute Daniel Sturridge, booed by City fans for having left their club for a better contract with the London club, might have slid in to claim a late equaliser but it would have been more than the reigning champions
deserved.
Tags: