Manchester City paid dearly for missing several clear-cut chances in front of goal as Chelsea cut the home side open with three defence-splitting counter-attacks to win 3-1 and maintain their top spot in the table. The game ended on an unsavoury note with Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho sent off for City at the death.
City took the lead in the first half through a clumsy Gary Cahill own goal. The match flowed from end to end and it was Pep Guardiola’s side who had the measure of the early chances. Chelsea equalised through Diego Costa on the hour mark, who chested a ball from Cesc Fabregas before striking the ball past keeper Claudio Bravo.
Willian, who came on as a second-half substitute, raced ahead against the run of play to put his side in the lead with a cleanly-taken strike with a little less than 20 minutes of play left in the game.
Eden Hazard added gloss on the scoreline for the Blues, one minute from full-time, breaking away in speed and finishing with aplomb.
With attacks from both sides coming at breakneck speed, there was plenty of action at the goalmouth at both ends. In the first half, Sergio Aguero, hit the ball straight at Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois from a few yards out.
The most notable miss of the game came from Kevin de Bruyne, who failed to convert a promising right-wing cross in the second half, only finding the frame of the goal. Cahill atoned for giving his opponents the lead with a goal-line clearance. Antonio Conte’s side have now won an incredible eight games on the trot.
Brief score:
Manchester City 1 (Gary Cahill own goal) lose to Chelsea 3 (Diego Costa, Willian, Eden Hazard)