Chelsea v Manchester City LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Mateo Kovacic scores stunner
Man City began their title defence with a confident victory at Stamford Bridge against Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side
Erling Haaland scored his 91st goal in his 100th appearance for Manchester City on Sunday as the champions kicked off their Premier League title defence with a lively 2-0 away win over Chelsea.
The big Norwegian, fed by Bernardo Silva, forced his way between Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana and finished neatly past Robert Sanchez in the 18th minute.
Former Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic made sure of victory for the visitors six minutes from time, racing through a disorganised Chelsea midfield and thumping the ball into Sanchez’s net.
Chelsea, in their first Premier League outing under new manager Enzo Maresca, fashioned some hopeful attacking moves through Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and recent signing Pedro Neto but were largely outclassed by their more composed visitors.
Chelsea 0-2 Man City
91 mins
There are five minutes of added time but this match is over as a contest, as Doku is fouled once more.
Chelsea 0-2 Man City
89 mins
Caicedo is just the second player to be booked today as he brings down Doku. Moments later, the Belgian does brilliantly to wriggle through three Chelsea defenders into the box, but his cutback is intercepted.
Chelsea 0-2 Man City
88 mins
Chelsea are charging forward trying to get back into it, but they’re leaving themselves open at the back. City are knocking it around to a chorus of ‘ole’ from their fans.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-2 Man City
85 mins
GOAL! And it’s a former Chelsea man!
Really poor on the whole from Chelsea. The ball is cleared straight to Kovacic, who is unmarked in acres of space. He drives forward towards the box and Fernandez doesn’t challenge him, so he goes for goal with an effort from outside the area. It’s not a brilliant effort and Sanchez should save it, but he palms it onto the base of the post and into the back of the net!
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
84 mins
City really do look very comfortable now, controlling the pace of the game and refusing to concede possession. Doku does eventually run into trouble, but City win it back quickly.
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
81 mins
Cucurella stays down after clearing the ball, and Chelsea will bring on Renato Veiga in his place.
City charge forward again, led by Doku, but they’re forced to recycle possession. It comes back to Foden, and before long it’s back with Ederson.
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
77 mins
Chelsea fans think they have a penalty shout, but Kovacic’s hand was in a natural position. It was brilliant play from Palmer and Gusto to get into that position though.
The corner is cleared, and though Chelsea keep possession, they end up knocking it out of play for a goal kick.
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
75 mins
Strangely, Chelsea aren’t really playing like a team desperately hunting an equaliser at home in their first game of the season. It’s very pedestrian.
City continue to search for a second, but Doku’s attempted through ball to Haaland is cut out.
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
72 mins
The first chance of note quite a few minutes as De Bruyne fires a shot wide when he could have played in Foden.
Moments later, City swept forward again, with Lewis playing the one-two with Silva before trying to square it to Haaland, but it’s put behind for a corner.
Chelsea 0-1 Man City
69 mins
Chelsea fans will be hoping that they’ve landed a real bargain with the signing of Marc Guiu, who cost just £5m from Barcelona as a result of a release clause. He’s one of the Blaugrana’s youngest ever goalscorers.
There is a lull in activity here as both sides struggle to gain a foothold at the moment.
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