Ten-man Chelsea beaten by Man City

Chelsea 2 Manchester City 3

Three goals in the space of 12 second-half minutes helped Manchester City come from behind to win the Community Shield at Villa Park.

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres got his season off to an encouraging start by coolly firing home after collecting Ramires’ pass late in the first half.

But two minutes later his team were reduced to 10 men when Branislav Ivanovic was red-carded by referee Kevin Friend for a reckless challenge on Aleksandar Kolarov.

Yaya Toure’s low shot levelled the match early in the second period and Carlos Tevez smashed in from 20 yards just before the hour mark.

Kolarov crossed for Samir Nasri to net City’s third, before Ryan Bertrand pulled one back by poking in the rebound after keeper Costel Pantilimon had fumbled Daniel Sturridge’s shot.

Title winners City looked the more dangerous side before Torres’ opener, with Chelsea keeper Petr Cech saving Tevez’s early free-kick and denying Nasri at close range.

Cech was also able to gather Vincent Kompany’s header from James Milner’s right-wing corner before City forward Sergio Aguero sent an effort wide of the target.

Chelsea did then start to threaten, with Frank Lampard shooting straight at Pantilimon, who also kept out Eden Hazard’s 25-yarder but was unable to prevent Torres putting the European champions ahead.

City hit back and were ahead within 14 minutes of the restart.

Toure pounced on the loose ball to score after Milner’s cross had not been properly cleared by John Terry, before Tevez cut in from the left and belted past Cech from just outside the penalty area.

Kolarov raced on to Tevez’s pass to set Nasri up for the third and City looked comfortable before Pantilimon’s error gifted Chelsea a goal – Bertrand’s first for the club.

City would have scored a last-minute fourth but for a glaring miss by Aguero, who contrived to shoot wide when it seemed easier to score.

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