FT: Chelsea 2-3 Manchester City
Manchester City struck the first psychological blow ahead of the new Premier League campaign, as they came from behind to defeat Chelsea 3-2 in the FA Community Shield at Villa Park.
Three goals in 12 second half minutes, from Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri (pictured) showed the side’s hunger to deliver more silverware, after their last-gasp title victory in May.
Despite strikes from Fernando Torres and Ryan Bertrand, City deserved victory, for their third trophy success in the Roberto Mancini era.
Chelsea weren’t helped by the dismissal of Branislav Ivanovic before half-time, for a dangerous challenge.
Little incident
Before the match, City confirmed that a £15m bid had been accepted by Everton for midfielder, Jack Rodwell.
Mancini started with a 3-5-2 formation, which had been experimented with in pre-season and their tactics, nullified the threats from the likes of Juan Mata and Ramires.
New Belgian signing Eden Hazard looked sluggish on his competitive debut for Chelsea but caused some hassle for the incompetent Stefan Savic.
The young Belgian was cautioned early on, as he dived into too many risky tackles on Hazard and was promptly withdrawn for Gael Clichy at half-time.
The first 38 minutes passed by with little incident but the game and the season exploded into life, in the last six minutes of the first half.
Ramires found some space on the edge of the box and supplied Torres, who finished sharply past reserve City goalkeeper, Costel Pantilimon.
The Euro 2012 Golden Boot winner had looked isolated upto that point but has started the season, in formidable form.
Turning point
As the sun started to shine on the Birmingham skyline, the FA Cup winners mood darkened, when referee Kevin Friend showed a straight red card to Ivanovic, four minutes before half-time.
The Serbian defender caught his international colleague Aleksandar Kolarov, with his right foot dangerously leaving the ground, even though his left foot remained on the turf.
At first, it looked like a harsh decision but television replays would indicate that Friend made the right decision, as it was a rash and wreckless tackle.
Chelsea players berated the official and the fans crude chants at the interval suggest that a lack of respect remains in the game, despite the recent fair play success at the football competition in the Olympic Games.
It had been a competitive game upto that point, played in a good spirit but as Ivanovic headed down the tunnel; Chelsea’s afternoon grew into a fraught one.
Seven minutes into the second half, they lost their lead as James Milner’s decent cross, prompted a panicky clearance from John Terry.
Toure cashed in and the Ivorian drilled a shot past Petr Cech to level matters.
Terrific Tevez
Ivanovic’s red card was the turning point and six minutes later, a wonderful individual strike from Tevez, completed the turnaround for the Premier League champions.
The Argentine looked hungry from the outset and had a terrific match. He held off David Luiz and lashed a shot from around 20 yards out, past a helpless Cech.
It became 3-1 shortly afterwards, as Kolarov’s cross was met by a first-time shot from Nasri with the outside of his foot.
City looked rampant and with three goals in 12 minutes, had made their intentions clear.
Roberto di Matteo will be worried about the performances of Luiz and John Obi Mikel, with both players being completely exposed by Mancini’s tactics.
Of course, the Blues didn’t give up and last season’s spirit was shown again by a goal from substitute Bertrand on 79 minutes.
Fellow sub, Daniel Sturridge’s tame shot was spilled poorly by Pantilimon and Bertrand cashed in for his first Chelsea senior goal.
However, it was too late for the West Londoners, who have a bit of work to do ahead of their season opener at Wigan next Sunday.
For City, they looked sharp, hungry and ready for the challenge ahead and don’t be surprised if this isn’t the only silverware they win in the 2012-13 season.
Chelsea – Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Terry, Ramires, Lampard, Mikel, Hazard (Bertrand – 71), Torres, Mata (Sturridge – 74)
Goals: Torres 39, Bertrand 79
Booked: Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Mikel, Bertrand
Sent Off: Ivanovic
Manchester City – Pantilimon, Kompany, Savic (Clichy 46), Zabaleta, Milner, de Jong, Nasri (Silva 76), Yaya Toure, Tevez (Dzeko 88), Aguero
Goals: Yaya Toure 52, Tevez 58, Nasri 64
Booked: Pantilimon, Savic, Kompany
Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 36,394
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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