Mateo Kovacic ensured Chelsea suffered defeat to Manchester City on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. The 30-year-old got on the scoresheet along with Erling Haaland to haunt his old club.
Chelsea finished last season strongly, boasting five consecutive home league wins, but the run has come to an end. The Blues conceded early and could never get a glove on the champions.
Man City dominated Chelsea in the first-half
City took the lead in the 18th minute through Erling Haaland. Jeremy Doku fizzed a low cross which Bernardo Silva deflected to Haaland, evading Wesley Fofana. Haaland held off Marc Cucurella and chipped an effort over Robert Sanchez for 1-0.
City came close to doubling their lead through Kevin De Bruyne, but his effort went wide of the post. Savinho cut inside to beat Cucurella and Moises Caicedo before finding De Bruyne in space. He side-footed an effort from outside the box, but couldn’t bend it to find the inside of the post.
Chelsea had a penalty shout when Enzo Fernandez appeared to be felled by Savinho, but it wasn’t given. City had another opportunity to score when Doku fired an effort at goal, but it was tipped over the bar. Sadly for Chelsea, it was more of the same after the break.
Chelsea looked levels below
There was only one goal separating the two sides after half-time, but City were far dominant. Haaland forced a save from Sanchez after being picked out by Silva, but Chelsea did have one big chance.
Fernandez nearly tucked a header in at the far post, but Nicolas Jackson would get even closer. The ball bounced to him in the six-yard box, but he couldn’t steer his effort past Ederson. City would punish the missed opportunity, and it was Kovacic who did it.
The 30-year-old turned over possession, ran towards goal, and fired an effort from distance beyond Sanchez. Chelsea could and should have done much better, but Kovacic didn’t make matters worse by celebrating.
