Man City inflicts Chelsea's 1st loss of season

Man City inflicts Chelsea's 1st loss of season

Published Sep. 25, 2010 3:51 p.m. ET

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez ended Chelsea's perfect start to the season on Saturday with the only goal in a 1-0 victory over the Premier League champions.

Chelsea, which had won five straight matches, fell behind for the first time this season in the 59th minute when Tevez was allowed to race through from the half way line unchallenged.

Rather than feeding the ball for David Silva, who was in space, Tevez took on Ashley Cole before sending the ball through the defender's legs from the edge of the penalty area and in off the far post.

Having hit 21 goals in five league matches before Saturday, Chelsea came closest to scoring when Branislav Ivanovic headed against the crossbar in the first half and his rebound was blocked by goalkeeper Joe Hart.

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''We suffered from the pressure in midfield Man City put on us,'' Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said. ''We didn't have the possibility to show our quality.

''Man City had a very good performance. In midfield they used a lot of power and won a lot of balls. Man City deserved to win. Man City have a lot of quality to fight for the title.''

City's solid defending has helped the team keep four clean sheets in six league matches this season.

But Tevez's solo effort was a rare moment of inspiration in a match between the league's wealthiest sides that was largely devoid of goal mouth action.

''We closed all the space for them and when we had the chance we played football,'' City manager Roberto Mancini said.

The first two minutes of the second period produced as much intense action as there had been in the whole of the first half.

After Hart pushed Nicolas Anelka's curling shot away from danger, Michael Essien squandered a chance from the resulting corner, heading over after being picked out completely unmarked.

City responded with its first meaningful attack, with Cech's low save denying David Silva.

It proved to be the prelude to the deadlock being broken by Tevez.

Twice Essien tried to level from long range, with the shots going over on both occasions, while Alex glanced a header wide and Cole hit the side netting.

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