Marcos Alonso’s last-ditch winner gave Chelsea a vital three points in their quest for Champions League qualification, as the Blues claimed a dramatic victory away at The Etihad Stadium. It ended Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea as the Blues denied the Citizens the title for at least 24 hours.
A dress rehearsal for the Champions League final had a rather dull and slow first half, which finally exploded into life in its final two minutes, thanks to an opening goal from Raheem Sterling and a shocking penalty miss from Sergio Agüero. Chelsea were much more positive in the second half and got themselves back on level terms through Hakim Ziyech’s low drive into the corner after 60 minutes.
Both sides had chances to win it late on, but it was Chelsea who managed to break forwards and claim the victory with one of the last acts of the game, as Alonso converted from close range. City will have to wait to confirm their title victory and Chelsea take a massive stride towards their goal of a top four finish.
TEAM NEWS
Following on from a week where both sides qualified for the Champions League final after intense second legs, big changes were to be expected in terms of Guardiola and Tuchel’s starting line ups. Visitors Chelsea made five changes from the team that overcame Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday night. Reece James and Marcos Alonso filled the wing-back roles, with Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell given a rest and Cesar Azpilicueta moved into the back three.
In midfield, Billy Gilmour was handed a rare start as Mason Mount and Jorginho both afforded extra recovery time ahead of next week’s FA Cup final. That meant that Hakim Ziyech came into attack, joining Christian Pulisic in supporting a central Timo Werner. Manchester City rotated even heavier than their opponents, making nine changes from the team that comfortably dumped PSG out of the Champions League in midweek.
Despite being a game where three points would secure them the Premier League title, only goalkeeper Ederson and central defender Ruben Días kept their places in the side.
FIRST HALF
The after effects of the Champions League heroics were evident in the early stages of the game, with the wholesale changes to both teams disrupting their usual rhythms. City’s Ferran Torres had the first decent attempt of the game after three minutes, finding a pocket of space in behind Chelsea’s left-sided centre back Rüdiger before attempting an early shot towards Mendy’s near post, which he lashed high and wide.
Raheem Sterling was perhaps lucky to remain on the pitch longer than 15 minutes after a rash challenge on Werner. The English forward stretched to make the tackle and went over the top of the ball, catching Werner with his studs; however he was off the hook with just a yellow after a VAR review.
After 32 minutes of a slow-burning game, Chelsea had the ball in the net through Werner before offside was correctly given. James’ volleyed effort towards goal wasn’t struck cleanly and went across the face of the six-yard box where Werner was waiting to turn it home, from a comfortably offside position. Hakim Ziyech was the first Chelsea player to really test Ederson, after turning in space around 25 yards our and curling an effort towards the far corner that needed a good save from the Brazilian keeper.
The first half was far from filled with chances and the best by far came right on the stroke of it. It came from a mistake and unfortunately for Blues fans it was a Chelsea mistake. A ball clipped forward down the right led to both Christensen and Gabriel Jesus chasing it down, stretching to try and deal with the threat, Christensen missed the ball and appeared to strain a muscle whilst attempting to clear. Jesus had the time and space to cross in to Agüero, who couldn’t convert himself after a loose touch, however running on to it to finish was Sterling, as he made it Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea.
A terrible time for Chelsea to concede almost became a complete collapse within just two minutes. Christensen had gone off injured. Before Tuchel had managed to get Kurt Zouma on to replace him, referee Anthony Taylor was pointing at the spot. Billy Gilmour was the man who was unluckily at fault, clipping Jesus’ heels as he cut right across in front of him.
Stepping up to shoot was City legend Agüero, playing out his final few games of a decorated career in Manchester, looking to get another goal in a title-deciding game; now even more keen to get on the scoresheet after having one pinched from him by Sterling moments earlier. However, it was a moment to forget for the Argentinian striker, as he cheekily attempted a chipped penalty, which was at a slow enough pace to afford Mendy time to stop his dive and stand up to catch the ball with one hand.
Cue second-hand embarrassment (and much hilarity) up and down the country.
HT: Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
SECOND HALF
The missed penalty gave Tuchel’s side a lifeline heading into the second half, and with the race for the top four still so hotly contested, even a point from a draw had the potential to be vital. Chelsea did seem to use that lifeline as motivation, with the away side looking a lot stronger in the first 15 minutes of the second half and dominating possession.
Of course, the next step was turning that possession and control of the game into chances and shots on goal, something that’s not easy against Pep’s City. Creating chances against an organised City backline was sure to be difficult, however capitalising on a mistake due to high pressing and catching them out on the break would present a much bigger chance – something Chelsea did just after the hour mark. Rodri careless in possession bringing the ball forward, the Spaniard dispossessed under pressure from Azpilicueta and Ziyech.
Suddenly Chesea were four on three and they played the situation flawlessly. Azpilicueta played a pass inside to Ziyech, who exchanged a quick one-two with Pulisic before the ball was at Azpi’s feet out wide again. The Spaniard then fizzed a driven pass to Ziyech who was now in a central position on the edge of the area, before he took one touch and a second to strike it into the corner, past Ederson to make it Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea.
The match was beautifully poised for a thrilling final 25 minutes. Chelsea’s second change saw Kanté replaced by Jorginho. Both teams appeared to be going for the three points now and Werner was inches away from making it Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea with 15 minutes to go.
A typically excellent delivery from James left the City centre backs stretching to try and get anything on the ball, as it flew across the six yard box and just evaded the outstretched boot of Werner. Callum Hudson-Odoi came on for the final 15. CHO had a point to prove after finding himself out of favour recently and struggling for game time, despite being one of the first names on the teamsheet in Tuchel’s early games at the club.
The 20-year-old forward already had a goal to his name against City this season, a consolation in a resounding 3-1 defeat at home in January, and must have thought he had scored the winner just after 80 minutes, touching home another James cross.
Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea? The flag went up straight away and VAR confirmed that Hudson-Odoi had strayed just offside, denying Chelsea the goal by the finest of margins. Substitute Zouma made a heroic challenge as the game approached its final five minutes, lunging in to block a Sterling shot as the City player ran clean through towards Mendy’s goal.
Zouma almost went from hero to zero less than two minutes later though. A clumsy looking challenge from the Frenchman appeared to clip Sterling as he went through on goal again, however this time Anthony Taylor waved the penalty claims away.
And then, in the final minute of added time, Chelsea sprung forward and snatched the victory in the most dramatic of circumstances. Hudson-Odoi played a ball down the line towards the on rushing Werner, who managed to get a gold ball into the area where Hudson-Odoi and Alonso were breaking into space, it fell to the latter who scuffed it beautifully over Ederson and in to make it Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea with just moments left.
The final moments played out without incident as it ended Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea and Pep’s champagne remains on ice for now.
FT: Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea
Post Match Thoughts: Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea
It was a brilliant second-half turn around from Chelsea, who could’ve had a mountain to climb at half time if Agüero had converted his penalty, but bounced back with venom to take a hold of the game and score the two goals to secure a vital victory.
Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea follows on from Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City last month and means the Chelsea question is now a serious headache for Pep Guardiola.
After Leicester’s 4-2 defeat to Newcastle last night and Tottenham’s loss at Leeds, Chelsea now look to be in pole position to secure Champions League football for next season, as they move up to third in the league.
The two sides will meet again later this month for the biggest prize in club football in the UEFA Champions League Final.
Written by Dom Domaingue (@dmdsport)
Edited by Rob Pratley
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