Manchester City fired an early title warning as they thrashed rivals Chelsea 3-0 at a recently-expanded Etihad Stadium to go five points clear of the Blues with just two games played.
Sergio Aguero fired the hosts into the lead after half an hour with a well-taken low shot into the corner, before Vincent Kompany headed in a second ten minutes from time to ease the growing nerves around the ground after a brief Chelsea spell. Fernandinho made sure of the result a few moments later as he fired a loose ball expertly past Asmir Begovic to seal the vital three points for City on a fiery afternoon in Manchester.
The game couldn’t have been set up any better with the inclusion of the all new South Stand which enabled an extra 10,000 fans to be in attendance. And with last season’s champions Chelsea coming to visit it for the first time; this match was certainly, according to captain Vincent Kompany, ‘ ‘one to tune in for’. He also mentioned that it was a game that City should ‘give everything in’- and boy did they give everything.
City came out of the blocks early and had Chelsea on the back foot from the first whistle. With just 40 seconds on the clock, Sergio Aguero found himself through on goal with just Begovic to beat, but his effort was tame and the added pressure from Chelsea defender Gary Cahill didn’t help the Argentine as his shot was saved by the Bosnian. Just a few minutes later, Begovic was in action again and it was that man Aguero once more who tested him with a fierce effort on the turn which was saved well. A mean Kolarov cross found Aguero soon after and it looked like the Argentine was finally going to get the better of the Chelsea stopper, but he was thwarted again as Begovic kept his side very much in the game.
But anyone knows that Aguero cannot be kept out for much longer and the City hero grabbed the first goal for City after 31 minutes. Some patient build-up play between Yaya Toure and Aguero led City into the final third. Aguero’s close ball control and low centre of gravity enabled him to accelerate away from both John Terry and Gary Cahill and stroke the ball home with his weaker foot before wielding away in celebration in front of the all-new stand, which roared its approval.
A few spells of Chelsea possession later, City should have found themselves two up before half time as Eliaquim Mangala failed to connect with a free header after the ball was whipped in from a free-kick. The half ended with City completely on top; limiting Chelsea to just half-chances and set-piece oppurtunities which they failed to make anything of. City midfielder Fernandinho was arguably lucky to stay on the pitch after an elbow collision with Diego Costa- but a yellow was all that was brandished, much to the anger of the Chelsea striker as he made his way down the tunnel.
The second half began with Jose Mourinho swapping the experienced John Terry for youngster Kurt Zouma as the Portugese looked to tighten things up. Chelsea began the second half with more menace than the first and began to apply some pressure to City’s back-line. Ramires had the ball in the back of the net mid-way through the second period, only for his effort to be ruled offside; although the Brazilian was late in his efforts to notice the flag!
Eden Hazard forced a smart save out of Joe Hart after the ball broke to him in the box, but his effort was straight at the Englishman. Both sides had their chances and spells of dominance but there was a definite feeling of nervousness around the Etihad as Chelsea began knocking on the door.
But with just ten minutes left to play, City won a corner which saw Vincent Kompany head home for the second time in two games. The ball was whipped in to perfection and the Belgian took advantage as he rose well to score in off the post and, like at the Hawthorns last Monday, celebrated in style! Nerves were settled around the Etihad with City’s comfortable two-goal cushion as Chelsea searched for an unlikely way back.
Most City fans would have taken the 2-0 score-line, but Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho had other ideas as he made sure of the points with just six minutes left to play. Chelsea failed to deal with a City attack and the ball broke to the South American, and he made no mistake as he smashed the ball home from twenty yards out of the reach of Begovic. Many believed Fernandinho should not have been on the pitch to score the goal but no City fan had time to worry about that as we revelled in what was a superb performance from the team.
Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao came close to adding a consolation for Chelsea in the dying moments, but City held on to keep a clean sheet and record their second 3-0 victory to go top of the Premier League once again with their superior goal difference. Jose Mourinho and Chelsea were left shocked as they were completely blown away by a new-look City side who seem fresh and rejuvenated for the upcoming
campaign.
More of the same please!
