Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0: match report

Manchester City brought Chelsea's sprint out of the blocks to a grinding halt at Eastlands, an accurately struck Carlos Tevez goal in the second half ending the champions' 100 per cent start to their title defence. It was a ferociously competed game as City took on Chelsea's customary physical superiority and, while Chelsea hit the post in the first half, there were very few clear chances for either side. It took a special goal to separate the teams. Just shy of the hour mark, James Milner stole the ball off Ramires with most of the Chelsea team committed up field for a corner. Milner found Yaya Toure who set Tevez off from about the half way line. Ashley Cole backed off the City captain willing to let him shoot from range; Tevez accepted the invitation and steered a low shot across Petr Cech and in off the far post. Before that, it was Chelsea who had come closest, Branislav Ivanovic hitting the post in a tight first half. Dider Drogba, subdued by his standards, took a corner short which Florent Malouda feinted superbly, making room for a cross. The Frenchman found Alex at the far post and the Brazilian nodded back into the box where Ivanovic headed against the post and then nodded the rebound into the arms of a relieved Joe Hart. Otherwise City fought aggressively to stop Chelsea imposing themselves on the game. Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry were outstanding as they snapped into challenge after challenge. Ramires, especially, appeared lost. Chelsea are not used to this sort of treatment. There were times when City nearly went too far. Dedryck Boyata body-checked Drogba off the ball in the penalty area in the first half when Vincent Kompany had the ball covered - high risk indeed but a permissive Andre Marriner let this physical game play out. David Silva had brought out a sharp near-post save from Cech shortly before the goal and, once they had taken the lead, they finished strongly. Aside from a mistimed Alex header, and a couple of miscued long-rangers from Michael Essien, Chelsea could not break Roberto Mancini's team down.

Source: Telegraph