MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Branislav Ivanovic scored in the 31st minute, and Chelsea neutralized the most potent attack with a 1-0 win at Manchester City today in a key Premier League showdown.
Ivanovic scored on a 25-yard, left-footed shot when the ball rebounded to him after City captain Vincent Kompany slid to block Ramires’ shot, and the Blues ended Manchester City’s streak of 61 home league matches since November 2010 in which it had scored.
Samuel Eto’o, Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill all struck the goal frame for Chelsea.
Arsenal (17 wins, three losses, four draws) regained the Premier League lead yesterday with 55 points, two in front of City (17-5-2), which are ahead of Chelsea (16-3-5) on goal difference.
City have 115 goals in all competitions and had been 15-0 at Etihad Stadium this season in domestic matches, including 11-0 in the league.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is renowned as a master defensive strategist, but the Blues counterattacked with pace and purpose, and hounded City into sloppy mistakes.
City badly missed a pair of injured players, forward Sergio Aguero and holding midfielder Fernandinho, who was ruled out just before kick-off with a muscle problem. Martin Demichelis – a centre back – filled in in central midfield and couldn’t stop Chelsea’s midfielders.
