Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City: Blues end City’s 21-game unbeaten run
Chelsea handed Manchester City their first Premier League defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge as goals in each half from N’Golo Kante and David Luiz gave Maurizio Sarri a timely statement victory.
The Blues showed great doggedness to weather the early storm of Manchester City’s relentless pressing and took their chances when they came. To be honest, Manchester City outclassed and outwitted Sarri’s Chelsea in the first half but didn’t have a goal to show for it. And the fact that Chelsea had a lead at the break despite being the second best team in the entire half was amusing.
Raheem Sterling and David Silva and had the opportunities to put City in front but some heroic defending from Chelsea kept the scoreline at 0-0. With the half drawing to a conclusion though, Chelsea took the lead from an unlikely source.
N’Golo Kante gave the Blues the lead on the stroke of half-time, completing a devastating counter-attack by lashing the ball past Ederson. Prior to that, it was all City and how they failed to take the lead was beyond everyone’s imagination.
Chelsea started the second half brightly with Willian earning a free-kick just outside the box after being brought down by Fernandinho. Willian curled the free-kick over the wall but Ederson dived to his left and made the save, with Pedro volleying the rebound high over the bar.
Pedro and Willian tested the City goalkeeper once again and the hosts’ constant pressure forced Guardiola to throw Gabriel Jesus into the fray.
Chelsea did not stop though. A Kyle Walker free-kick was saved by Kepa after Hazard was penalised for handball. Pedro dragged a shot at Ederson and continued to attack whenever they got the opportunity before Chelsea scored the second and the killer goal.
Substitute Ross Barkley’s shot went wide and a corner was awarded and Hazard’s set-piece was met by Luiz, who rose the highest to send a looping header into the far corner of the net in the 78th minute.
That goal proved to be enough as it ended City’s 21-game unbeaten run in the league stretching back to last season when Pep Guardiola’s side won the title with 100 points.
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Overjoyed with the victory over the reigning Premier League champions, here is how some Chelsea fans reacted on Twitter.
Omg what a win
— Ali🇬🇭 (@TheBeardedRauI) December 8, 2018
As the year runs out may we all go from grass to grace just as Chelsea did to Man city today.
What a great game.
C’mon you blues pic.twitter.com/8Kwnww3rZg— Esan_boi (@M_brownJr) December 8, 2018
I’m proud of all the players for putting in a shift. This is what it means to play for Chelsea 💙 Defensively very impressive today. Thank you for proving me and so many wrong today. This result has made my weekend. We were shambolic agsinst Wolves but you made amends today. UTC!
— Tom Andrews (@CarefreeTom_182) December 8, 2018
3 points, clean sheet and ended City’s unbeaten run. We eatin’ good tonight.
Luiz, Azpi and Kanté incredible on the pitch. Hazard with 2 assists as our false 9, we should really try doing this more often. #COYB
— 🇫🇷 (@nglkan7e) December 8, 2018
Best performance of the season. What a time to be alive.
— dhawal (@dminusb) December 8, 2018
Best win all season. Clean sheet, 3 points, and ended city unbeaten run, Blue is the color #CHEMCI
— Soffiyah🇳🇬 (@iamsoffiyah) December 8, 2018
I can’t believe that we have won this game…. It seems like am dreaming…….. That is team spirit we want from this guys.. Luiz at least paid us bad
— Samuel (@sam_dizo) December 8, 2018
Sarri masterclass!!!
— SARRIsfied (@Lordabas) December 8, 2018
#Chelsea is the best team
— ChelseaFC Sénégal🇸🇳 (@ChelseaFCSngal1) December 8, 2018
What an incredible result and the 2nd half performance was incredible
— Cameron Cole (@ccole_99) December 8, 2018
MAURIZIO SARRI IS HERE TO STAY. 🚬
That is a tactical masterclass.
🙌🙏— Chelsea Edits (@chelsea_edit) December 8, 2018
Blue is the colour 🎵🎶🎵💙💙
— 🇧🇪 (@CescomobiIe) December 8, 2018