Man City 5 Chelsea 3: Nasri and Co do the double over Blues in another US thriller

By Ian Ladyman

PUBLISHED: 19:04 EST, 25 May 2013 | UPDATED: 19:36 EST, 25 May 2013


Playing in the world’s most famous ball park, Manchester City and Chelsea ended their brief visit to America by providing their audience with a baseball score.

Having scored seven times between them in St Louis on Thursday – City winning that game 4-3 – this time the two English teams came up with one more. City it was who won again but those who braved a rather chilly night here in the Bronx will have cared more for the entertainment.

If football – or soccer – is ever to take a real hold in America then this is the type of game that will help. They don’t like goalless draws over here so it was little surprise that another high-scoring game was greeted so rapturously.

Rampage: Man City won their second high-scoring game against Chelsea in a couple of days

Rampage: Man City won their second high-scoring game against Chelsea in a couple of days

Drafted: Samir Nasri, who was the star of the show, lifts the ball over Petr Cech

Drafted: Samir Nasri, who was the star of the show, lifts the ball over Petr Cech

Match facts

Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart (Wright 45,mins); Zabaleta (Maicon 45mins), Kompany (Lescott 45mins), Boyata (Garcia 55mins), Kolarov; Y Toure (Rodwell 45mins), Barry; Nasri, Tevez (Razak 45mins), Silva (Milner 45mins); Aguero (Dzeko 45mins).

Goals: Barry 3, Nasri 29, 73, Milner 54, Dzeko 84.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Hilario (Cech 45mins); Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz (Mata 61mins), Ake; Mikel; Loftus-Cheek (Ferreira 42mins), Ramires, Oscar (Benayoun 65mins); Ba, Torres.

Goals: Ramires 48, 68, Mata 82. 

Att: 39,462.

Once again City deserved their victory. Two up at half-time after goals from Gareth Barry and Samir Nasri, they scored three more after the break through Nasri again, James Milner and Eden Dzeko.

Chelsea, though, got within one goal on three occasions as two efforts from Ramires and a superb free-kick from Juan Mata brought them back in to the game.

At times the game got ridiculously stretched and by the end both teams looked as though they would score every time they entered the opposition half. Over here, though, that is just the way they like it. More than 80,000 people have seen the two games and it is hard to imagine that this experimental post-season visit will not be repeated. 

With City fielding a more competitive side than Chelsea, it was not surprising that they started the stronger. They had been the dominant side early on in St Louis on Thursday but failed to take their chances and ended up two goals down at half-time.

Here in New York, though, they scored within three minutes thanks in part to a shocking error from Chelsea midfielder Oscar. The Brazilian is a fine player but the pass he tried to play across his own penalty area here went straight to City forward Sergio Aguero and when the South American’s shot was repelled by Chelsea goalkeeper Henrique Hilario, Barry was on hand to side foot the ball in to the empty goal.

Dead on: Juan Mata's precise free-kick which curled into the top corner wowed the crowd

Dead on: Juan Mata's precise free-kick which curled into the top corner wowed the crowd

Ramires
Joe Hart

All action: Ramires bundles his way past Gareth Barry while Joe Hart tips a cross-shot onto the bar

On a cold night, this was just the start the crowd of 39,462 needed. There is a genuine enthusiasm for football in this part of New York and this stadium could well be New York City’s temporary home when the club formed by City and the Yankees begin life in the MLS two years from now.

Barry’s goal was greeted enthusiastically – despite the fact there was once again more Chelsea supporters than City fans in the crowd – and it set the tone for the first half an hour.

City were superior in every way early on and almost scored again in the seventh minute when Pablo Zabaleta moved on to a low cross and fired a shot against Hilario’s legs when he really should have scored.

Up and over: Samir Nasri (centre) scored a sweet lob to put City 2-0 up

Up and over: Samir Nasri (centre) scored a sweet lob to put City 2-0 up

Torn apart: At time Chelsea were taken to pieces and David Luiz was not impressed

Torn apart: At time Chelsea were taken to pieces and David Luiz was not impressed

The Chelsea goalkeeper was on his game again soon after as he touched over a long range shot from Carlos Tevez but couldn’t do anything in the 29th minute when David Silva slid Nasri in and the French international chipped a delightful effort over the advancing goalkeeper and in to the far corner.

Two down now, Chelsea had to find their feet quickly and they did. City goalkeeper Joe Hart had already saved well with his leg from Demba Ba and was called upon again a minute after Nasri’s goal to parry a Fernando Torres drive and then touched a deep corner on to his own crossbar as Chelsea finally began to find some momentum.

City made seven substitutions during the break while Chelsea only changed their goalkeeper and within a minute of the restart the London club had a goal back.

David Luiz drilled a superb long pass over City’s back four and Ramires showed great skill to control the ball on the volley and then some terrific composure to ease it past the advancing Richard Wright and slide it in to the empty goal.

Iconic: Chelsea and City clashed at the New York Yankees baseball stadium

Iconic: Chelsea and City clashed at the New York Yankees baseball stadium

Head over heels: Torres rolls over as he struggled to help Chelsea into the game

Head over heels: Torres rolls over as he struggled to help Chelsea into the game

This was just what the game needed and one wondered if Chelsea were about to mount a comeback similar to the one that City put together in St Louis on Thursday. Had Wright not saved from Ramires in the 52 minute then maybe it could have happened but it was City who scored next, Milner playing a lovely one-two with Eden Dzeko before driving a low shot across Cech and in to the far corner.

Once again these two teams had provided some great entertainment for another good crowd. Certainly the two games in America have been a step up from the standard pre-season games that usually see players struggling for fitness.

Happy days: Nasri sticks his tongue out as he celebrates but Demba Ba (right) is less happy

Happy days: Nasri sticks his tongue out as he celebrates but Demba Ba (right) is less happy

Here you go: David Luiz hands his jersey to a supporter with a banner for him

Here you go: David Luiz hands his jersey to a supporter with a banner for him

City could have wrapped this one up only for Cech to save from Milner and back came Chelsea to close the gap again, Ramires converting his second goal of the night from a Torres cross with 22 minutes left. The Brazilian looked well offside when he finished the move and City may have felt a little aggrieved had they not re-established their two-goal cushion soon after.

Once again it was Nasri who scored and this goal was perhaps even better than his first as he shimmied his way through the Chelsea defence before lifting the ball over Cech.

With nine minutes left, though, Chelsea came again. This time it was substitute Mata who brought the crowd to their feet as his floated free-kick found the net from the underside of the bar only for his own goalkeeper Cech to let him down a little by allowing Dzeko’s low drive to creep past him at the near post with six minutes to go.

High five: Torres, who captained Chelsea, congratulates double goalscorer Ramires

High five: Torres, who captained Chelsea, congratulates double goalscorer Ramires

Sign up: Youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who started both games, signs autographs for fans

Sign up: Youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who started both games, signs autographs for fans

Having fun and making friends: Chelsea and City sold out both games on the tour

Having fun and making friends: Chelsea and City sold out both games on the tour

Ready for action: The teams prepared for their last game of a long and demanding season

Ready for action: The teams prepared for their last game of a long and demanding season

 

More...


Comments (124)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

Did city really have a open top bus tour in America after winning two freindlies,really,they are so sad.

2
1
 Click to rate

Ha,,,the only clowns are the Berties who think they are a Massive club. LOL =====20=====

4
3
 Click to rate

Would it not have been better to play this game under the big top ?? Did they play the circus theme when the two plastic clubs walked out ?? =====20===== - Footloose.. , Manchester..., United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 09:52 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They were waiting for you footlose the biggest clown in Manchester !!! lol

3
9
 Click to rate

Would it not have been better to play this game under the big top ?? Did they play the circus theme when the two plastic clubs walked out ?? =====20=====

4
3
 Click to rate

City means business with this New York popularity thing... they played their 1st team and were kicking and pulling those Chelsea academy kids. - kojo, Metown, United Kingdom, 26/5/2013 4:31-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------you have never played football in your life. If you have, then you must have played in in Lycra for some alternative style team. When I was 14 I was playing the the Lancs and Cheshire league against men. You play the game, you take the knocks and get on with it. It is not some namby pamby baby game that you seem to familiar with.

3
2
 Click to rate

Small clubs - no history! - Eddie G, New York, United States, 26/5/2013 15:23 That is such a moronic comment Eddie. What is small about either club? Do none of the trophies either team won count for any history? Grow up

2
7
 Click to rate

Nasri's actually found his level at last ,Freindlies,cos, he just hasn't cut it in the premier league.

2
4
 Click to rate

these new kits have a nice sleek new look to them! cant wait for fifa14 lol david luiz is a BOSS! such a likeable character

4
3
 Click to rate

City are going to open a lot of eyes next season and close a lot of mouth`s City will prove they have what it takes and the papers will still knock them so bring it on as long as we keep winning who care`s !!! And as for small club we will make our own history just watch this space !!!

2
19
 Click to rate

this is city Mancini built... Mancini has done a great job and no pellegrini comes in and collects the rewards... the samehappened at Inter... Mancini built inter then he was sacked for talking his mind and being honest about the situttion and Mourinho arived and gatheed the benefits (5 trophies)... No other manager could have built a good team like mancini did, he had to spend so much time and energy to clear out all the poisnous Mark Hughes players - not even mourinho could have done that.

4
10
 Click to rate

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now