Terrific Tevez; Hapless Hilario – Man City dismantle Chelsea
By Uche Ofoma February 27, 2010
Belleti receives a red card for bring down Gareth Barry
With Manchester United not in league action this weekend, victory would have taken Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premier League.
But it was a disastrous afternoon for Ancelotti, whose side had only dropped points in one previous home game this season, a 3-3 draw with Everton.
What's more, his team lacked discipline after the break and were vulnerable in defence, with Hilario looking particularly suspect.
All eyes before kick-off were focused on Terry and Bridge, who came face-to-face for the first time since allegations about the former's relationship with the latter's ex-partner.
As it turned out Bridge, who this week announced his retirement from international football, shunned Terry's outstretched hand.
There was an anti-climatic feel to the start of the game, which was low on excitement but, on a heavy Stamford Bridge surface, high in mis-placed passes and stodgy midfield play.
Both sides set up with three across midfield operating behind three more attack orientated players but Chelsea were the superior team and enjoyed the better of precious few early openings.
Malouda drilled a thunderous long-range strike narrowly over the crossbar, Given palmed clear from Joe Cole, Drogba headed over and Vincent Kompany almost sliced an attempted clearance into his own net.
City seemed content to surrender territory and invite pressure – and Chelsea gradually forced some clear openings.
Drogba shot disappointingly over with a shot on the turn but Lampard made no mistake after running into space and collecting a precise pass from Joe Cole before drilling the ball low across goal from 16 yards.
All City had mustered was a tame Adam Johnson free-kick but Tevez, on his return to the side after compassionate leave in Argentina, equalised with a smash and grab effort on the stroke of half-time that epitomised all the Argentine's tenacious qualities.
Chelsea were partial architects of their own downfall as Jon Obi Mikel headed a long Bridge clearance towards his own goal but Tevez then repeatedly managed to hold off both Terry and Ricardo Carvalho before shooting limply beyond the outstretched but ultimately futile dive of Hilario.
City might even have led at the break after a Craig Bellamy free-kick deep in injury time was met by an unmarked Joleon Lescott but the defender headed wide.
Bellamy, anonymous in the opening half, stunned the home crowd with his goal minutes after the restart.
A Chelsea attack broke down and Mikel found himself isolated against Bellamy marauding down the left flank.
It was an unfair contest and Bellamy burst into the box before shooting into the bottom corner from a very tight angle for another goal that was, at least in part, goalkeeping error.
There was little sign of an equaliser for the home side and it took a last-gasp clearance from Branislav Ivanovic to prevent Bellamy extending City’s lead.
Ancelotti’s desperation was reflected in the fact that Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Daniel Sturridge and Salomon Kalou were all on the field for the final 20 minutes.
But Tevez made it 3-1 for City with a powerful penalty into the corner after Barry had got the wrong side of Belletti, who tripped his opponent.
Ballack was dismissed after picking up a second yellow for a lunge on Tevez before Bellamy tapped home unmarked at the far post after 87 minutes following a low pass across goal from Shaun Wright-Phillips.
There was still more drama and Given saved from Anelka, who was later brought down by Barry, allowing Lampard to end the game with a consolation penalty.
