After handing Chelsea the title on Friday, Roberto Mancini watched
his Manchester City side promptly snatch it away again as Carlos
Tevez's second-half strike ended the champions' 100% record with
a 1-0 win.
In a tactical battle with defences largely on top throughout, Tevez's
moment of inspiration just before the hour proved to be decisive.
Chelsea were unable to halt the South American's burst from halfway
and he found the perfect finish too, through Ashley Cole's legs
and in off the post.
Carlo Ancelotti's men battled hard to force an equaliser, but,
just as they had done for most of the contest, they failed to open
up a disciplined City defence and came no nearer than the header
Branislav Ivanovic struck the bar with before half-time.
It rather showed up the opinion Mancini offered that Chelsea would
win the title easily, and signalled City can join Manchester United
and Arsenal in harbouring genuine hopes of glory next May as well.
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