Manchester City strike twice to sink Chelsea including magnificent Riyad Mahrez free-kick

Manchester City struck twice through Julian Alvarez and Riyad Mahrez to sink Chelsea, with the latter scoring a magnificent free-kick.

It was a lively start to the game. Chelsea were quickly penned into a back five as City piled on early pressure, but none of their three corners were put to any use.

Armando Broja had Chelsea’s first attempt of the game after winning the ball in the middle of the park, but he could only blaze his effort well over Stefan Ortega’s crossbar.

Chelsea should’ve been ahead after 13 minutes. Hakim Ziyech pulled it back to Christian Pulisic, but Rico Lewis diverted Pulisic’s shot onto Ortega who brilliantly saved to keep it at 0-0.

Ortega was then called into action again, again by Pulisic, as Lewis Hall’s side-run opened up space for the 24-year-old, however his curling effort was parried away.

City had half chances of their own through Julian Alvarez and Jack Grealish, with Sergio Gomez and Lewis fizzing in dangerous crosses into the box to no avail.

Edouard Mendy was forced to get down low four minutes before half-time to ensure Grealish’s edge of the box shot didn’t find the far, bottom corner.

It was Chelsea who should’ve been in front at the break though. Hall, who was a shining star in the first-half, was fed in by Pulisic and his sharp and quick feet saw him one-on-one with Ortega, but the 30-year-old ensured he made a big save to ensure the hosts went into the interval level.

Marc Cucurella made a crucial last-ditch challenge four minutes into the second half, bailing out teammate Mateo Kovacic, to deny Riyad Mahrez of a shot at goal from close range.

Mendy was then called into action twice by Grealish. After his initial save, pushing the ball away from curling into the corner, he got down low on the stretch to make a fantastic double save.

But City went ahead in the 53rd minute through Mahrez. His free-kick on the edge of the box left Mendy stood still to go into the back of the net.

City doubled their lead five minutes later through Alvarez, who tapped in from close range after Mendy parried Mahrez’s initial shot straight into his path. The hosts looked for a third but Mendy got down well to ensure Cole Palmer didn’t get on the scoresheet.

Hall nearly halved the deficit just after the hour mark following a superb piece of skill from Ziyech, but Ortega managed to keep out his effort from the cut-back.

Graham Potter made a quadruple change in the 69th minute as Chelsea searched for a way back into the game. Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling replaced Trevoh Chalobah, Denis Zakaria, Hakim Ziyech and Armando Broja. Kai Havertz also replaced Lewis Hall late on.

Mount had a chance to pull a goal back in the closing stages, but his effort on the turn inside the box could only go the wrong side of the post, adding to Chelsea’s frustrations as they neared their exit in the Carabao Cup.

Chelsea had the ball in the back of the net in the 90th minute after pinball inside the box and Ortega spilling the cross, but the offside flag was raised.