Published on : 15/12/2020 – 23:26
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London (AFP)
For the second day in a row, Chelsea missed the opportunity to take the lead in the Premier League by being beaten at Wolverhampton (2-1) on Tuesday for the 13th day, while City were hung by the relegable West Bromwich Albion.
. Chelsea did not deserve better
After Saturday and the defeat at Everton (1-0), the place, even provisional, of leader refused to the Blues who had yet in their hands.
A goal from his center-forward from Olivier Giroud – an instinctive volley on a cross from Ben Chilwell that Rui Patricio had released behind his line, as reported by goal line technology (1-0, 50th) – had yet offered an unexpected advantage to mediocre Londoners so far, except for a header on the crossbar from Kurt Zouma shortly before the break.
But Giroud’s 8th goal this season, in all competitions, especially woke up a West Midlands team that is never easy to maneuver.
After a goal denied to Fabio Silva (55th), it was another Portuguese, Daniel Podence, who equalized after transplanting into the penalty area (1-1, 66th).
In the 83rd, the referee designated the penalty point for a foul by Reece James on Neto, before the VAR canceled it.
But the Lusitano striker avenged himself in added time with a superb sequence of passing of legs-cross strike at ground level which left no chance for Edouard Mendy (2-1, 90 + 5), for the 83rd consecutive goal for Wolves scored by a non-Briton.
Chelsea therefore remain in 5th place with 22 points, three points from Liverpool and Tottenham who face each other on Wednesday and two units from Leicester (3rd).
. Johnstone sickens City
West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone single-handedly disgusted Manchester City by increasing the stops against Manchester City forwards, forced to draw (1-1) at home by the penultimate.
While a success could bring them to the foot of the podium, or even on the 3rd step in the event of a very wide victory, City is only 6th at 5 points from the championship lead.
West Brom remains 19th with 7 points, but the Baggies’ performance by Slaven Bilic is encouraging.
With 25 shots on goal, including 6 on target, Pep Guardiola’s men spoiled a lot, like the two heads of Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling in added time, both pushed back by an excellent reflex from Johnstone.
The German midfielder had however given the advantage to his people at the half-hour mark, served in withdrawal by the English striker (1-0, 30th).
But City – where Aymeric Laporte was once again a substitute, this time barred by Nathan Ake – conceded their first goal in just over 10 hours of play, on a pivot strike from Semi Ajayi, deflected by Ruben Dias who caught Ederson on the wrong foot shortly before the break (1-1, 43rd).
As much as the 0-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday could pass for an acceptable result, this draw may delay City’s return to the title race, while a third of the championship has already passed.
Results of the 13th day:
Tuesday December 15 (in GMT hours)
Wolverhampton – Chelsea 2 – 1
Manchester City – West Bromwich 1 – 1
Wednesday December 16 (in GMT hours)
(18h00) Leeds United – Newcastle
Leicester – Everton
Arsenal – Southampton
(20h00) Fulham – Brighton
West Ham – Crystal Palace
Liverpool – Tottenham
Thursday 17 December (in GMT hours)
(18h00) Aston Villa – Burnley
(20h00) Sheffield United – Manchester United
© 2020 AFP
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