Published : Dec. 13, 2011 - 19:11
LONDON (AP) ― Manchester City won’t be running away with the English Premier League. City’s 17-game league unbeaten streak ended as Frank Lampard converted a late penalty kick that lifted Chelsea to a 2-1 victory Monday night.
“Chelsea were really lucky in this game,” City manager Roberto Mancini said. “We are disappointed with this defeat but we have time to recover.”
Mario Balotelli put the visitors ahead after 105 seconds, but Raul Meireles tied it in the 34th minute.
Lampard replaced Meireles in the 73rd and tied the score nine minutes later, beating goalkeeper Petr Cech with a shot down the middle after City defender Joleon Lescott used a hand to block an attempt by Daniel Sturridge. “I had a feeling in the second half that it was going to be our night,” Lampard said. “You’ve got to be big enough to stand up and take them (penalties), and I was very relieved when it hit the back of the net.”
City played a man short after left back Gael Clichy was ejected in the 58th minute for two yellow cards in a 12-minute span.
“We didn’t score enough in the first half and then the game changed after the sending-off. It became difficult,” Mancini said.
Chelsea’s Frank Lampard celebrates his goal against Manchester City. (AP-Yonhap News)
Italy Giorgio Chiellini scored in the 61st minute, giving Juventus a 1-1 draw at Roma that lifted the Turin club into a tie with Udinese for the Italian league lead.
Daniele De Rossi put Roma ahead in the fifth minute. After Chiellini tied the score, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved Francesco Totti’s penalty kick in the 63rd.