City 2 Chelsea 0
February 24th 2013 47,256
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WH Smith and the City shop
Great win by City after an excellent team performance. A tough battling first half was notable for a succession of fee kicks that went against City. So much so that when City won a free kick a huge cheer went round the stadium! City were certainly playing well and the Chelsea goal had some narrow escapes. However though Aguero - on his own up front - tried hard, there was something missing in the final third.
Things looked bad when Hart brought down Demba Ba and a penalty was awarded. After several City players had already been given yellow cards Hart escaped further punishment. Lampard took the kick and Joe Hart guessed correctly diving to his right to block the ball. A brilliant save indeed!
Rodwell played really well in the first half and must have been disappointed to be substituted by Tevez but the substitution did the trick with more brilliance from Yaya Toure who passed the ball into the net. A moment of sheer magic! A further bit of magic came from Tevez who cracked the ball home with just five minutes to go. The defence played really well giving Joe Hart plenty of cover and apart from the penalty he had only one other shot to save all game unlike Cech who was busy throughout the match.
An early shot by Yaya Toure lacks direction and venom and is easily saved by Cech
An early foul on Aguero is ignored by the referee
Rodwell made a surprise appearance and Tevez returned to the bench. Still no Kompany - Toure standing in for him.
Good turnout by Chelsea fans considering the early kick-off
From a Silva corner Cech has to make a good save from Nastasic
The Everton manager is watching
and the ball almost gets to Aguero
Yaya Toure tries to get in a shot
Aguero just fails to reach the ball with Cech beaten
Jack Rodwell is penalized for a foul on Ramires
A header from Rodwell goes over the bar
The referee checks if Ramires is still alive!
Another header by Rodwell fails to find the net
Hart just beats Ramires to the ball
Nastasic goes to check if Yaya Toure is still having a nap!
Ramires gives the ref a one finger salute as he gets booked!
Aguero in a battle for the ball
Cech has to tip over a long shot from Rodwell who heads towards goal from the corner..........
...but Cech saves with Aguero ready to pounce
Just before half time Zabaleta goes into the referees note book
Early in the second half Aguero tries a spectacular over-head kick but the ball goes wide.
On 50 minutes a long ball catches City out and Joe Hart brings down Ba and the referee gives a penalty
Lampard takes the kick but Hart dives to his right and saves the shot pushing the ball wide
Kolo Toure is first to the ball and clears for a corner and the City defenders thank Joe Hart
On 53 minutes Tevez comes on for Rodwell who had played well
Cahill manages to clear from Aguero
Its all action at the corner
Aguero breaks through and shoots.......
......but the ball goes just wide of the far post
Chelsea mess up a counter attack and Ba is crowded out
On 62 minutes Yaya Toure beats several defenders and scores a sublime goal putting the ball past Cech to give City the lead
Aguero lets the City supporters behind the goal how he feels about that!
Silva congratulates Yaya Toure
City subs Dzeko and Nasri enjoy the moment while the South Stand let the Chelsea fans know how they feel!
Chelsea manager Benitez makes some changes
On 85 minutes City attack down the left and the ball comes to Tevez........
....who lashes the ball past Cech to make it two nil and game over!
Tevez is surrounded by the City players and Platt and Mancini plot the final minutes
Luiz gets to grips with Yaya Toure!
Hart 7.5: Zabaleta 7.5, K. Toure 7.5, Nastasic 7.5, Clichy 7.5: Garcia 7.5, Rodwell 8 (Tevez 7) Milner 7.5, Yaya Toure 8, Silva 7.5( Lescott) Aguero 7 ( Nasri)
