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Chelsea yesterday
showed that they have re-discovered the art of winning ugly by beating
Manchester City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge with goals from Brazilians –
David Luiz and Ramires. Chelsea are now third in the league standings
going into the international break.

The match, watched
by Chelsea’s benefactor, Roman Abramovich, was a cagey affair – made
more so by the absence of Carlos Tevez from the City Line-up.

The Argentine had to be replaced with Mario Balotelli after he injured himself during the warm-up.

The first half
started with Chelsea probing but the City defence made up of Vincent
Kompany – stand-in captain, Joleen Lescott, Micah Richards and
Aleksandar Kolarov, making up the back four. This defence were backed
up by three defensive midfielders in Nigel De Jong, Yaya Toure and
Gareth Barry. The front line had David Silva and Edin Dzeko, supported
by James Milner, who played as a pseudo midfielder tracking the runs of
Ashley Cole, Chelsea’s left-back. The match did not produce its first
corner kick until the 29th minute and at that point Chelsea were a bit
in the ascendancy.

The first half
ended with little goal-mouth action but all that was to change in the
second half. The first goal did not arrive until the 79th minute.
Before the goal, £50 million striker, Fernando Torres had been replaced
by Didier Drogba in the 71st minute and it was almost an instant impact
by the Ivorien.

David Luiz, the
Brazilian defender who scored a wonderful goal against Manchester
United two weeks ago popped up on the left side of midfield and teased
a free kick from Micah Richards. Drogba delivered a perfect ball into
the box unto the head of Luiz who dispatched his header to the left of
Joe Hart in goal for City. It was a fine goal by the Brazilian bought
during the transfer window from Benfica. That made it two goals in four
matches for Chelsea.

Roberto Mancini,
Manchester City manager responded by bringing on two forwards – Adam
Johnson and Mario Balotelli for two midfielders, Toure and James
Milner. City caused some anxious moments in the 90th minute but Luiz
cleared to safety after the ball was ricocheting across the Chelsea box

The changes
completely threw City’s formation off balance and Chelsea capitalised
on this in the dying moments of the match with the killer second goal
by Ramires and what a goal it was.

The Brazilian World Cup midfielder skipped past Lescott and then
Kolarov before picking his spot and smashed the ball into the net, it
was conclusively game over. Both Abramovich and Carlo Ancelotti will
have been pleased with the result. It was Ancelotti’s first win over
City in four meetings and the Chelsea owner could gloat over his recent
signings.