A Carlos Tevez goal handed champions Chelsea their first defeat of the Premier League season yesterday as Manchester City scored a 1-0 victory at Eastlands.
Just one day after City manager Roberto Mancini decreed that Carlo Ancelotti’s team would repeat as champions, he saw his own club halt the progress of the London club, comfortable winners of their opening five games.
Mancini’s pre-match assertion, whether intended as an exercise in “mind games” or not, certainly created a stir, with the City manager claiming that the visitors would defend their Premier League title “easily.”
PHOTO: REUTERS
The cautious attitude also extended to Mancini’s team selection, with Tevez as the solitary striker, and it came as no surprise that the few first half chances that were created predominantly fell to the visitors.
After 20 minutes, Yaya Toure lost the ball in midfield and presented Michael Essien with the chance for the game’s first shot, which he sent skidding well wide of the City goal.
Only the woodwork and Joe Hart’s customary excellence in goal rescued City after 27 minutes, when Florent Malouda’s cross was headed back across goal by Alex and Branislav Ivanovic saw his own header strike the bar.
The Chelsea fullback responded well and followed up, only to be denied by the England goalkeeper.
The visitors enjoyed a glut of possession thereafter, but failed to seriously test Hart again, the best chance falling to Essien just before the interval, but at the end of a promising attack, his shot was woeful and wide.
The second half, however, opened with the promise of more attacking play from both sides and, before the hour was reached, City were in front.
The goal came from a counterattack and was sprung from a short pass from Yaya Toure that found Tevez on the halfway line. The Argentine sped through Chelsea territory — Chelsea defender Ashley Cole backing away furiously — before beating Peter Cech with a superb strike that flew in off the inside of the left-hand post.
Ancelotti was clearly stunned by the Tevez goal, coming as it had largely against the run of play, but if he was expecting a committed response from the champions, there was none forthcoming.
In fact, Yaya Toure might have doubled the lead as he weaved his way into the Chelsea area, just losing his balance before he could get off a close-range shot, and the visitors were limited by dogged defending to long-range shots.
Essien tried his hand with a couple of pitiful efforts from distance, while defender Alex rose well to meet a Malouda corner, but his strong header flashed harmlessly across the face of the City goal.
Chelsea substitute Daniel Sturridge, booed by City fans for having left their club for a better contract with the London club, appeared as a substitute and might have slid in to claim a late equalizer, but it would have been more than the reigning champions deserved.
LEAGUE CUP
AFP, LONDON
Newcastle United’s reward for their dramatic League Cup victory over English champions Chelsea is a home tie against Arsenal in the fourth round.
Chris Hughton’s side snatched a stunning 4-3 win at Chelsea in midweek thanks to Shola Ameobi’s last-minute winner to earn a shot at the Gunners, who beat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 at White Hart Lane.
League Two club Northampton Town, who shocked Liverpool with a penalty shoot-out triumph at Anfield, were drawn to play Championship team Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Holders Manchester United were handed a home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
League One team Brentford, who defeated Everton on penalties in the third round, travel to Birmingham City looking for another Premier League scalp.
Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez welcomes former club Swansea City to the DW Stadium.
The other three ties see Aston Villa host Burnley, Championship club Leicester City take on West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City travel to fellow Premier League strugglers West Ham United.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely