It was an extremely close one, with the winner edging it by just 3% so let’s see what it was…
Chelsea 2 City 4, 27 February 2010
City continued their unbeaten run in the Premier League with a 4-2 win over nine-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy scored two apiece to seal the three points to move up to fourth place Spurs.
The home side took the lead through Frank Lampard but City responded excellently are were level inside three minutes thanks to Tevez.
Bellamy added his first of the game shortly after the restart to give the Blues the lead before Juliano Belleti was shown a straight red card for a foul on Gareth Barry in the area.
Tevez scored from the resulting spot kick and then things went from bad to worse for Chelsea after Michael Ballack picked up his second yellow card to reduce them to nine men.
Bellamy notched his brace with three minutes to play before a Lampard penalty in added time reduced the deficit.
The three points secured the Blues’ first win at Stamford Bridge since 1993, Chelsea’s first home defeat in any competition in 37 attempts and the first time City had completed the double over these opponents since 1957.
Match highlights
Starting XIs
Chelsea: Hilario, Ivanovic, Carvalho (Kalou 69), Terry, Malouda, Lampard, Mikel (Belletti 61), Ballack, Cole (Sturridge 61), Drogba, Anelka.
Unused subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Alex, and Matic.
City: Given, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Bridge (Santa Cruz 78), Zabaleta, De Jong, Barry, Johnson (Wright-Phillips 60), Bellamy, Tevez (Sylvinho 89).
Unused subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Toure, and Ibrahim
Key Moments
42’ – Goal – Chelsea take the lead as Frank Lampard buries a shot in the back of the net past the dive of Shay Given.
45+1’ – GOAL! – City draw level through Carlos Tevez, who jinxes his way past two defenders before stabbing the ball past the outstretched arm of Hilario.
50’ – GOAL! Craig Bellamy puts City in front for the first time with a magnificent individual effort.
60’ – Chelsea make a change as Juliano Belletti comes on for John Obi Mikel.
67’ – Michael Ballack is shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean.
75 – Belletti is shown a straight red card for bringing down Gareth Barry in the area when he was through on goal.
76’ – GOAL! – Tevez makes no mistake from the resulting spot kick to give City a two-goal cushion.
81’ – Chelsea are reduced to nine men as Ballack is shown a second yellow card.
87’ – GOAL! – The three points are secured late on with Bellamy grabbing his second of the match after being set up by Shaun Wright-Phillips.
90+1’ – Goal – The home side reduce the deficit as Frank Lampard scores from the penalty spot after Barry fouled Nicolas Anelka.
Man of the Match
Carlos Tevez
Reaction
“Stamford Bridge’s previously impregnable walls were left a pile of rubble by the brilliant Blues. An extraordinary contest saw Chelsea reduced to a shambolic mess by Roberto Mancini’s men who came from behind to re-write the history books.
“Such was the disarray of the home side that they finished the game playing with nine men. This stunning and deserved victory enhanced the Blues bid for fourth place and blew the title race wide open.” Chris Bailey, Manchester City
“Manchester City mounted only two serious attacks in the first hour and scored from both of them, courtesy of Hilário’s lack of positional sense and authority between the posts.
“That was the decisive factor in the game, along with the return of Carlos Tevez, even before Chelsea began losing players through their own indiscipline.” Paul Wilson, Guardian
“Manchester City stunned Premier League leaders Chelsea with an emphatic 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge. The win sends the Blues back into the top four, for now at least, and reinvigorates their stuttering challenge for a Champions League spot.” Stuart Brennan, Manchester Evening News
