A 5-minute stretch decided Manchester City/Chelsea and 1st place in the EPL
Manchester City went into Saturday a point back of Chelsea for first place in the Premier League and had the Blues visiting the Etihad. All they needed was a win at home and they would be top of the league. Things even started well as Gary Cahill acrobatically slotting the ball into his own net just before halftime to put the Citizens 1-0 up. But the entire match would flip in a five-minute span, sending Chelsea on their way to victory to extend their lead on the rest of the Premier League.
It all began in the 54th minute, with who else but Sergio Aguero. The Argentine had been a menace all match, nearly getting David Luiz sent off in the 30th minute, but this time Luiz was nowhere near him. Aguero simply rose and nodded the ball for what looked like a sure goal, only to have Cahill head it off the line.
It wasn't even two minutes later when City were off again and a cross found an unmarked Kevin De Bruyne mere yards from an open goal. All it took was a tap into an empty net, and yet somehow De Bruyne missed it. He smashed the ball off the bar and fell to the ground in disbelief.
Manchester City should have been at least 2-0 up. They probably should have been 3-0 up. But instead, moments later they weren't even leading.
It's hard to blame City for that. It's a 40-yard ball over the top to a well-marked Diego Costa, who happens to take the perfect first touch and scores with his next touch. It's truly brilliant. But that type of brilliance can't be separated from Manchester City's play that preceded it -- a ball cleared off the line and a missed open goal.
Eventually, Willian would send Chelsea to the win, Eden Hazard would add a late goal for good measure and Aguero and Fernandinho would get sent off to rub salt in City's wounds. But make no mistake -- this match was decided in a five-minute stretch from the 55th to 60th minutes.
One City miss. Another City miss. And a brilliant Chelsea goal. That's all it took to change the top of the table, where Manchester City are nowhere to be found and Chelsea's dream run looking more magnificent than ever.
EMPHATIC RESPONSE from Diego Costa! The striker levels for Chelsea, who tie vs. Man City 1-1. https://t.co/xxiNilFwut
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 3, 2016
