Champagne on Ice

Not there yet

The Premier League celebrations will have to wait for Manchester City, who lost 2-1 against Chelsea on Saturday.

The Citizens were less than 30 minutes away from another league title when Hakim Ziyech spoiled the party.

Raheem Sterling thought his first-half strike was enough to win the match.

Sergio Aguero missed a penalty that could have clinched the championship for the Sky Blues.

Marcos Alonso got the game-winner late into injury time as Chelsea got the better of City once again.

Game Story

City came in knowing they had a big cushion on second-place Manchester United and looked eager to get the breakthrough early on.

In the 17th minute, a nice break from the Citizens as the ball came the Benjamin Mendy down the left.

His cross, though, was blocked by Andreas Christensen, but it bounced to Rodri, who fired a powerful strike that deflected off Cesar Azpilicueta and went wide.

Chelsea came close on 33 minutes when Billy Gilmour played in a lovely through-ball to Timo Werner.

Aymeric Laporte did well to stay with it as the German had to bend it around the Frenchman and his shot sailed wide.

A minute before the break, City took the lead.

On the stretch, Christensen tried to clear the Chelsea line but couldn’t get it out far enough as it came to Gabriel Jesus on the edge of the box.

His ball eventually found Raheem Sterling, who fired his effort past Edouard Mendy.

Just before half time, City had a chance to double their lead.

Jesus poked a shot forward that was blocked, and as he looked for the rebound, it appeared his momentum took him towards Gilmour, who knocked him to the ground, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Sergio Aguero stepped up to try and score his second league goal in successive weeks, but Mendy read his Panenka-like kick easily and made the save.

With Chelsea escaping the first half only down by one, Thomas Tuchel’s side took advantage of the break in the 63rd minute.

Some nice build-up by the Blues as Azpilicueta fed Hakim Ziyech, who took one touch and drilled a low shot past Ederson from just outside the box to level the score.

Chelsea nearly took the lead in the 73rd minute when Reece James drove forward down the right to get away from Mendy before curling a dangerous cross into the six-yard box.

Werner slid onto it, but Ruben Dias did well to put him off as the German couldn’t find the back of the net.

The pace became frantic at that point, with both sides eager to get three points.

City thought they’d earned another penalty just before we reached injury time.

Kurt Zouma’s legs seemed to bundle over Sterling, but the referee thought otherwise and allowed play to go on while, oddly, VAR found nothing wrong with the play either.

Deep into injury time in the 92nd minute, Chelsea found the winner.

Timo Werner raced in behind the City defence giving Dias the slip and cutting his ball back across goal.

Marcos Alonso was there to fire it over Ederson and into the top corner.

Chelsea held on to dash City’s Premier League aspirations for at least another day and maybe longer.

Man of the Match

Timo Werner appears to be playing up to his potential lately with the Londoners.

Perhaps it’s the change in coaching, but the speedy winger made a massive impact today.

He caused fits to the City fullbacks putting them on their backfoot whenever the ball came his way.

He set up the winner and created several great scoring opportunities in the second half.

Party Poopers

For a second time in three weeks, Chelsea have denied City the chance at a trophy.

The good news is this one may only be temporary, whereas their previous defeat in mid-April cost the Sky Blues a chance at a quadruple.

Two of Chelsea’s significant signings last summer broke City hearts again today.

Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech combined in the FA Cup semi-final as the latter scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory.

On this day, the Moroccan got the equaliser while Werner set up the winner late into stoppage time for Alonso.

Blue Walls crumbling down

Man City have been incredibly stingy defensively all season long, but there is one statistic that will not make Pep Guardiola happy.

With today’s performance, City have conceded at least twice in four consecutive Premier League matches at the Etihad.

That’s the first time they’ve conceded that many in the top flight at home since 1978.

Watch Party

This defeat opens the door slightly for Man United, who are still mathematically in the hunt to take the title.

City fans and players could still be celebrating a championship this weekend.

They will have to wait and see how their arch-rivals fare against Aston Villa.

If Villa can pull off the upset, then City would officially clinch their third title in the past four seasons.

Letting it slip away

Today was not the first time City failed to hold a lead at home.

The Citizens have now dropped eight points from winning positions in home matches in the league.

You have to go back to the 2008-09 season to find a time they squandered more points at home; as that campaign, they let 12 points slip away.

Losing it late

It’s the second consecutive home match where City have given up points at home in the late stages of an EPL match.

It has been a while since they have played a Premier League match at the Etihad before today.

Back on April 10, they lost to Leeds thanks to a Stuart Dallas strike in the 91st minute.

Evening the Score

What Thomas Tuchel has done since taking over at Chelsea has been nothing short of monumental, and when you look at the managers, he’s bested; it makes it even more impressive.

After losing his first three managerial meetings against Pep Guardiola, the German is unbeaten in his last four encounters versus City’s master tactician.

Managers Words

After the match, City manager Pep Guardiola said all they can do is accept this defeat and move on.

“In 21 days, we are going to face them again in the Champions League final. We need to learn from this and before that try to win the three points to win the title.”

Next Up

City’s next match is Friday as they head out on the road to face Newcastle United.

We won’t know until tomorrow whether City will need a result in this match or not.

The kick-off from St. James’ Park is at 8 pm. (JSL).