Man City 2 Chelsea 1
VERY NAS ... Samir Nasri celebrates his dramatic winner
Published:
21st
March 2012
AMAZING what can be achieved when you agree to do a bit of warming up and get on with the job you are paid for.
Mancini's men were a goal behind to Gary Cahill's deflected shot when Tevez
was summoned from the bench by the boss with 66 minutes gone — and this time
round the Argy was bang up for it.
After his mate Sergio Aguero equalised from the penalty spot, Tevez played a
sublime one-two with Samir Nasri with five minutes left and the Frenchman
clipped the dramatic winner into the corner.
It marked a record-breaking 20th home Premier League win in a row for City —
and the fans in the Etihad Stadium went mad.
LOOK WHO'S BACK ... Carlos Tevez shares a joke on the Man City bench
They believe once more that they can triumph in this title race as they closed
the gap on rivals Manchester United to a single point.
City deserved victory on the balance of play but, until Tevez came on, there
was concern that their bid to overhaul United was coming to a grinding halt.
Whatever you think of the barrel-chested striker — and there are plenty of
opinions — it is undeniable that he is an extremely gifted footballer.
And when Tevez does actually make it on to the field of play, his work-rate is
rarely questioned.
Nobody expected to see Tevez in a City shirt again but now he is, he could be
the missing piece in the jigsaw.
WELCOME BACK ... Tevez had a mixed reception from fans with some supporting and some booing
Last night, his touch of guile was sorely needed with Aguero getting little change out of Cahill and David Luiz, while Italian hitman Mario Balotelli was so out of sorts he was subbed at half-time.
Mancini had come out defiantly pre-match to claim that his side would win the
title and needed a victory to support his brave boast.
To that end, ever the pragmatist, he welcomed back Tevez.
BREAKTHROUGH ... Gary Cahill's deflected effort gives Chelsea the lead
There was muted applause for the Argentina ace as he practised before kick-off
but none of the fans will be complaining if Tevez helps win them the title.
And with Nasri playing possibly his best game since his £24million summer
arrival from Arsenal, City were unlucky not to take the lead on eight
minutes.
Yaya Toure played a raking 40-yard through ball and Nasri expertly chested
down and chipped over Petr Cech. The crowd were celebrating as it headed
towards goal but there were groans when it struck the bar and bounced away.
Nasri again tried a long-range drive which was just over the bar — and when
the Blues' skipper for the night Frank Lampard gave the ball away, it seemed
Balotelli must go on and score.
But the striker was having one of those nights and, though Cech saved his
shot, it was never going in anyway.
SPECIAL CAHILL ... Chelsea goal-scorer Cahill wheels away in celebration
Mancini made no apology for hauling the sulky frontman off and replacing him with Gareth Barry arguing, quite simply, afterwards that his fellow Italian was not any good.
Chelsea had enjoyed a resurgence under caretaker-boss Roberto Di Matteo,
winning four games in a row since he took over from the axed Andre
Villas-Boas.
It was a big week for the West Londoners, with a home game against Spurs to
follow and the trip to Lisbon next Tuesday for the first leg of the
Champions League quarter-final against Benfica.
But they were digging in to keep the scores level and Nasri again caused
problems when his cross-cum-shot was tipped on to the bar by Cech. From
there, the ball was turned back in and David Silva's effort was deflected
just wide.
From the corner, Aguero's acrobatic volley flew over.
KNEESY DOES IT ... City boss Roberto Mancini on the sidelines
Di Matteo decided he needed more steel in midfield and replaced Raul Meireles with Michael Essien.
Within a minute, Chelsea were ahead against the run of play as Barry lost out
in a tangle with David Luiz and Cahill's shot was deflected past Joe Hart by
the unfortunate Yaya Toure.
That meant it was time for Tevez — and he came on in place of Nigel De Jong to
more cheers than boos.
City fans might not like what he has done but they are a forgiving bunch.
For Chelsea, Didier Drogba replaced Fernando Torres, who had battled hard up
front without reward.
POWER SERGE ... Sergio Aguero fires home from the penalty spot
The former Liverpool man retained his place after his double against Leicester
in the FA Cup broke a goal drought which had lasted longer than 24 hours of
pitch time.
However, you still had to go back to September for his last goal in the
Premier League and he was far from happy at being hooked.
It needed a consoling word from Di Matteo to stop him throwing his toys out of
the pram.
City looked shattered and without the same purpose they had shown in the first
half.
But they got a lifeline when Pablo Zabaleta crashed in a drive which would
have gone high into the stands had Essien not blocked it with a raised arm.
It happened at close range and, though Di Matteo claimed it was harsh,
credit to him for conceding it probably was a penalty.
DRAMA ... Samir Nasri celebrates his late winner
When Nasri collected he knew exactly what to do. The Frenchman played it in to the feet of Tevez, continued his run and took the return pass from which he gleefully converted.
Last term, Tevez lifted City's first silverware in 35 years as his team claimed the FA Cup.
What a twist it would be if he is parading the Premier League trophy at the Etihad on May 13.
DREAM TEAM
STAR MAN - SAMIR NASRI (Man City)
Man City: Hart 6, Zabaleta 6, Richards 7, K Toure 6, Clichy 6, Silva 5
(Dzeko 6), Y Toure 7, De Jong 6 (Tevez 7), Nasri 8, Aguero 6, Balotelli 5
(Barry 6). Subs not used: Pantilimon, Milner, Kolarov, Savic. Booked: Nasri.
Chelsea: Cech 6, Ivanovic 5 (Bosingwa 6), Luiz 7, Cahill 7, Cole 6,
Mikel 6, Meireles 5 (Essien 6), Ramires 6, Lampard 6, Mata 6, Torres 6
(Drogba 6). Subs not used: Turnbull, Malouda, Kalou, Sturridge. Booked:
Mata, Lampard.
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