Sports

Chelsea delay Man City’s coronation as Premier League champions

Sports Desk, May 8 (EFE).- Manchester City needed a win Saturday to clinch their third Premier League title in four years, instead surging Chelsea took all 3 points from the contest at the Etihad that many saw as a dress rehearsal for the May 29 Champions League final between the two English clubs.

Long assured of winning the league, City will be champions by the end of the weekend if second-place Manchester United drop points Sunday against Aston Villa.

Still, Pep Guardiola will be unhappy about a second straight defeat to Chelsea, who bested City a few weeks ago in the FA Cup semifinal.

The Blues move up to third, 1 point ahead of Leicester City, and look a safe bet to achieve a top four finish.

Both Guardiola and Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel made changes to the squads that secured their respective tickets to the Champions League final at mid-week.

Chelsea thought they’d gone ahead when Timo Werner put it in the City net in the 32nd minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside, and City took the lead in the 44th minute with a goal from Raheem Sterling.

The hosts were poised to double their advantage when they won a penalty in first-half stoppage time for Billy Gilmour’s takedown of Gabriel Jesus.

Sergio Agüero, City’s all-time leading goal-scorer, stepped up to take the kick. But the Argentine star, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, opted for a Panenka and keeper Edouard Mendy saved it easily.

Werner and Christian Pulisic squandered chances for Chelsea before Hakim Ziyech brought the visitors level in the 63rd minute with an assist from Cesar Azpilicueta.

The Blues went on to see two goals called back for offside in the space of three minutes before Sterling went down in the Chelsea area in the 87th minute after contact with Kurt Zouma.

To the fury of Guardiola, the referee waved off a penalty and the VAR review failed to overturn the call.

Two minutes into stoppage time, Werner brought the ball into the area and cut back for Marcos Alonso, who beat Ederson to get the match-winner for Chelsea. EFE

apa/dr

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