Manchester : Manchester City just needed a point to wrap up their league title which they missed against Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday (April 8) as they fell to a 2-1 loss.
City took the lead when Raheem Sterling scored on the stroke of half-time but Hakim Ziyech levelled after the hour mark and Marcos Alonso scored the winner just two minutes into added time.
It was Gabriel Jesus who set up City’s goal on 44 minutes with a cross into the box that was meant for Sergio Aguero. Although a bad touch from him saw it fall at the feet of Sterling who smashed it into the net.
However soon Aguero had the opportunity to make up for his mistake when Billy Gilmour gave away a penalty for pulling down Jesus in the box. Aguero attempted a Panenka which Edouard Mendy was able to casually stand up and catch. “It’s his decision. The taker makes his decision. He decided to take it his way, I’ve nothing to add,” said City boss Pep Guardiola after the match.
City were left seething for that missed chance on 63 minutes when Ziyech levelled the score after the hour mark. Christian Pulisic and Cesar Azpilicueta teamed up with some nice once-twos before the Chelsea captain pass fell to Ziyech who hit a low shot past Ederson
Chelsea also had the ball in the net twice more before the end of the half with Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi both having their goals ruled out for offside in the final 15 minutes.
View this post on Instagram
The winner came for Thomas Tuchel’s men when Werner cut the ball back for Alonso who fired it past Ederson and into the net on 92 minutes.
“I think the second half was a fantastic response to the last five minutes of the first half where we almost lost it all. To me it was a clear 0-0 half but suddenly we did one decisive mistake and maybe the match becomes out of reach at half-time,” Chelsea boss Tuchel said after the game.
“With every minute we gained confidence and quality. We got better and better. It was a tough battle and once we got the equaliser we never stopped attacking. [The winning goal] was a huge reward.
“This tells us we can rely on our fitness which is a fantastic feeling at the end of a season. We can also rely on our team spirit, we keep going.”
