Manchester City 0 Chelsea 2
April 5th 42,594
Chelsea were easily the better side at COMS and although City had some good chances in the first half Chelsea gave the impression they could have raised their game if City had scored. It was men against boys as the visitors muscled their way to an easy 2-0 win. It's been a disappointing second half of the season and with Elano's form dropping away as opponents sussed out how to counter his skills City's ability to make chances in the last third has been minimized. It did not help to lose Petrov to suspension for his foolish act of petulance in the Everton game. Too many times recently City have been chasing the game. At least we are not fighting relegation. Certainly there will be some major changes in the summer as next season there must be a run for Europe.
The Thai ladies contingent were early to their seats and there was a good turnout by Chelsea fans
Chelsea made many changes from their defeat in Turkey midweek while City had both Ball and Johnson back from injury. Petrov returned as did Corluka.
Will this be the last smile between the two captains. Both Anelka and Wright-Phillips both had a welcome by City fans.
Lampard tries to barge past Fernandes.
A hair raising moment for Benjani
While Drogba (lower right) seems to be in another world listening to music at top left was Warren Clarke ( Supd. Andy Dalziel) no doubt waiting for a crime to be solved
Kalou falls in a clash with Neddy Onuoha
Disaster struck fro City after just 6 minutes. when Anelka broke clear down the right and put in a centre which Richard Dunne accidentally put into his own net with Essien waiting to pounce.
Onuoha makes a great last ditch tackle on Anelka
Johnson tries a shot and Alex takes evasive action but the shot goes over the bar
Joe Hart punches a Chelsea corner away
A worried City bench.
While some can't look Faz shouts out instructions
Dunne wins a heading duel with Anelka
Terry clears from Ireland
Johnson has a pass blocked by Belletti
Hart punches clear under pressure from Alex
Cudicini manages to beat Benjani to the ball.........
......... tries to keep the ball in but is charged by Benjani..... and after the free kick is awarded to Chelsea ....
the two players make up!
After 25 minutes Lampard shoots but his shot just goes wide with Hart covering
After 30 minutes Benjani made a good run down the wing and put the ball back to Ireland whose shot was deflected for a corner
Petrov's low fast corner was headed clear by Essien and from the throw-in Petrov put in a great shot but Cudicini was equal to the task and pushed the shot over the bar much to the dismay of the City supporters.
Great interplay between Johnson and Ireland ended with a Johnson deflected shot from a narrow angle being saved on the line by Ashley Cole
Corluka put through by Elano was dumped to the ground by Kalou
The free kick was a bit of a mix-up between Elano and Petrov but eventually the ball came over........
........ and ran to Ireland who put the ball back into the danger area but first Cudicini and then Terry cleared for Chelsea
Petrov puts a free kick wide
Despite being a goal up Chelsea manager looked very depressed.
After 51 minutes Shawn Wright-Phillips is substituted by Joe Cole who appears to be carrying an invisible box while Aram Grant appears to be getting a message from Mossad or was it the FSB!
Johnson blocks a Lampard effort
8 minutes into the second half Chelsea made the game safe. A lucky deflection let in Kalou who was able to beat Hart from close range.
A minute later and Anelka nearly made it three but a wonderful save by Hart saved the day pushing the ball away from the ex City player's feet
In the very next minute Hart was the hero again - first pushing a header from Anelka onto the bar and ............
.......when the ball came down Joe Hart was quick to push the ball to safety as Anelka came in for the kill
In the meantime Nedum Onuoha lay in agony on the ground having been muscled off the ball by Essien in the build-up. It looked a normal fall
It looked to be quite serious as the delay was almost five minutes and later it was reported that he had dislocated his shoulder and had a problem with his wrist.
With Richards still away Richards the loss of Onuoha who had played well is a big blow to the club.
Ireland tried an effort but his shot.......
...... was easily saved by the Chelsea keeper.
Jihai Sun came on as sub for Onuoha claims for a throw-in
Anelka is thwarted by Corluka who had moved to the centre of defence
Ashley Cole tries to block a Petrov centre
With just 3 minutes left Hart was in action again saving from Anelka. In the second half City rarely troubled the Chelsea goal and the visitors came out comfortable winners
Team
Hart 7.5: Corluka 6. Onuoha 7 ( Jihai Sun 6) Dunne 6, Ball 6: Ireland 6 (Caicedo 6), Johnson 7, Fernandes 7, Petrov 7; Elano 6 (Vassell 5) Benjani 6.5,
