Goals from Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho gave Manchester City a convincing 2-0 victory over Premier League champions Chelsea.
Asmir Begovic was the main man for the visitors in the opening period, producing three world-class saves from Aguero, who put one wide. But it was fifth time lucky for the striker giving them a well-deserved lead in the 31st minute.
Chelsea started the second half brightly with Ramires’ goal ruled offside and Joe Hart did well to block Eden Hazard’s effort, before the Belgian captain added a second and Fernandinho rounded off the game seven minutes from the end to secure a crucial three points.
Bright start from City
City went very close to opening the scoring in the first two minutes of the match, David Silva played it through to Aguero but Begovic did brilliantly to come out and block the effort, Jesus Navas was on the rebound but fired it across the face of goal.
Chelsea were under pressure in the opening proceedings of the match and would have been a goal down after 15 minutes if not for Begovic. The Bosnian, who was standing in for the suspended Thibaut Courtois, did excellently to get down to his bottom corner to stop Aguero’s effort after the Argentine had brilliantly turned the defenders in front of him.
The 'keeper was at it again only a minute later, when winger Navas found space on the right-hand side of the field before playing it across field for Aguero who aimed for the same corner he was denied in seconds before, but once again it was the same outcome with Begovic producing another great save.
This was Aguero’s first start of the season and his lack of game time looked to be showing with his excellent opportunity in the 22nd minute, John Terry missed the opportunity to clear the cross which seemed to take the forward by surprise as he proceeded to poke his shot wide of the target.
Aguero makes it 1-0
For all of Begovic’s efforts, there was nothing he could do about the home side taking the lead on the half hour mark. Silva played to Aguero, who played a terrific one-two with Yaya Toure he then turned Gary Cahill excellently before slotting his shot beyond Terry and into the bottom corner.
Chelsea came flying out of the traps in the second period and thought they had equalised just four minutes after the restart, Hazard's ball over the City defence reached Ramires, who did well to dink it past Joe Hart. The midfielder ran off in celebration but the flag was up for offside.
Hart hadn’t had much contribution throughout but did brilliantly when he was called upon in the 71st minute, Hazard, who had been quiet, when he hit a low shot from 15 yards out but Hart was behind. Diego Costa slid in to grab onto the rebound, but he would have been offside regardless.
Raheem Sterling showed his blistering pace in the 75th minute when he flew past Branislav Ivanovic on the counter and managed to reach the by-line before playing it across but unfortunately it was straight at substitute defender Kurt Zouma.
Clinical finish from City
Five minutes later, they doubled their lead, it was poor defensive display from Chelsea with Kompany allowed to make a free run into the area for the corner before holding off Ivanovic before heading it out of the reach of Begovic and in off the post.
Fernandinho rounded off the game five minutes from the end, Toure did well to set him up with the subtle pass before the midfielder hit a thunderous shot between the two defenders and into the bottom corner.
Costa had the final opportunity of the match in extra-time to get some sort of consolation for Jose Mourinho’s side. He stretched to get his boot onto the low cross into the area which came back off the post and Hart was there to clean up which ended what had been a miserable afternoon for the champions.