Manchester City v Chelsea Live Commentary & Result, 08/01/2023, FA Cup

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City are next in action in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday against Southampton on the road. Chelsea play Fulham away in their next outing in the Premier League on Thursday.

Manchester City ease past Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 hammering of the Blues at the Etihad Stadium. Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring with a brilliant free-kick before Julian Alvarez added a second from the penalty spot. Phil Foden finished a fine team move to put the home side in complete control at the break. Mahrez added a fourth with City's second penalty of the game to cap a terrific performance from the hosts to book their place in round four, where they will face the winner of the game between Oxford United and Arsenal.

90' + 2' FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 4-0 CHELSEA

90' There will be two minutes of added time.

João Cancelo

Yellow Card

87' Cancelo sticks out a leg to bring down Chalobah and goes into the book. A needless challenge.

87' Mahrez surges forward again in search of a hat-trick, but he loses out to Zakaria in the box.

R. Lewis

Bernardo Silva

86' Silva makes way for the home side and is replaced by Lewis.

R. Mahrez

Penalty Goal

85' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! MAHREZ HAMMERS HIS STRIKE HOME!!!!!! 4-0 CITY!!!! Mahrez puts his recent troubles from the penalty spot behind him by rifling his effort into the roof of the net. Kepa dives early to his left and can only watch as the ball rockets off the boot of Mahrez for City's fourth goal of the game.

84' PENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY! Foden goes down under pressure from Koulibaly in the box as the defender sticks out a leg. The referee points straight to the spot.

82' Foden takes a knock in a challenge with Azpilicueta. The England man takes a little time to get to his feet, but appears to be okay.

80' Foden almost gets the wrong side of Zakaria from a long ball over the top, but the midfielder recovers and turns to offload safely in the Chelsea half.

78' BLOCK! Hutchinson and Chukwuemeka combine in the final third before the latter rolls an offload to Zakaria. He shoots towards goal, but sees his effort deflected over the bar.

76' Chelsea have not quit in the contest, which will please Potter, but there has been a distinct lack of quality from the Blues on the ball.

74' CHANCE! A rare chance for the Blues as Hutchinson collects a pass from Azpilicueta and places his left-footed strike past the right post. Not a bad effort from the youngster.

C. Chukwuemeka

M. Mount

73' Chukwuemeka replaces Mount, who was off the pace for the majority of the game.

72' WIDE! Silva feeds Mahrez on the right flank and he cuts inside to shoot on his left foot, but he places his effort narrowly wide of the post.

Bernardo Silva

Yellow Card

70' Silva trips Gallagher on the charge and goes into the book.

68' City are playing the game almost at a pre-season pace. They've done the hard work and Chelsea are not putting them under any pressure.

66' Chelsea finally find space in the final third, but Gallagher dwells too long on the ball and loses out to Mahrez.

64' There's no joy for Chelsea on the pitch at the moment. A combination of pressing from the hosts and a lack of willingness to show for the ball is preventing them pushing forward.

O. Giraud-Hutchinson

H. Ziyech

63' Hutchinson replaces Ziyech for the visitors, who has not been able to get into the game.

César Azpilicueta

Jorginho

63' Jorginho is withdrawn by Potter as Azpilicueta enters the action.

C. Gallagher

Yellow Card

62' Gallagher brings down Cancelo with a cynical challenge and goes into the book.

João Cancelo

Sergio Gómez

59' Gomez makes way for the home side at left-back and is replaced by Cancelo.

K. Phillips

Rodri

58' Phillips replaces Rodri in the middle of the park after the Spaniard was booked.

56' Mount tries to force a low cross towards Zakaria at the near post, but Akanji is alert on the stretch to clear ahead of the midfielder.

55' SAVE! Gallagher catches City out with a quick-pass and finds Mount in the inside-right channel. He fires at goal and sees his deflected effort tipped wide of the left post by Ortega.

Rodri

Yellow Card

54' Rodri brings down Mount with a late challenge a minute removed from being tackled hard by the England man. The Spaniard goes into the book.

51' Silva tries to release Palmer in behind Chalobah in the inside-left channel, but the defender covers and clears the danger.

48' City are on the front foot once again in the second half. Chelsea cannot break out of their own half in possession.

46' We're back under way at the Etihad Stadium.

D. Fofana

M. Kovačić

46' Fofana makes his Chelsea bow as he replaces Kovacic.

D. Zakaria

K. Havertz

46' Havertz is withdrawn after a poor first-half performance and is replaced by Zakaria.

Chelsea have been all over the place in the contest and failed to even register a shot at goal in the first half. Graham Potter's men had no answer for City's play in the final third and they failed to produce any counterpunch. The second period is a crucial half for Potter and potentially his future in the Chelsea dugout.

Manchester City are well on their way to the fourth round of the FA Cup after taking a 3-0 lead into the break against Chelsea. Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring with a sublime free-kick before City were awarded a penalty when Kai Havertz handled in the box. Julian Alvarez converted the spot-kick, beating Kepa Arrizabalaga with his low strike. Phil Foden notched his side's third before the interval, finishing a fine team move with a one-touch strike.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 CHELSEA

45' There will be two minutes of added time.

45' CLOSE! Alvarez, Palmer and Mahrez combine in the final third. Mahrez collects an offload from Palmer and directs a cross towards Alvarez in the middle, but he just cannot connect on the slide.

42' Gallagher catches Laporte with a boot as the two challenge for the ball. City get the free-kick on the edge of their own box.

40' Chelsea cannot afford to collapse here. They need to show some fight before the break to give themselves hope heading into the second half.

K. Walker

Assist

38' Walker makes a run forward from the back and collects Mahrez's pass. He supplies a low cross into the middle that Foden steers home.

P. Foden

Goal

38' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! FODEN FINISHES A FINE CITY MOVE!!!! 3-0 CITY!!!! Foden provides the finishing touch from close range to cap a sensational move from the home side. City play through the Chelsea midfield before Rodri releases Mahrez in space. He offloads to Walker on the charge, who places a low ball across the face of goal. Foden is there to convert with a neat left-footed finish.

37' SAVE! Mahrez lines up a curling strike on his left foot that Kepa watches all the way and punches over the bar.

36' City win another free-kick as Chelsea lose possession on the edge of their box. It gives Mahrez another opportunity to fire at goal.

35' CHANCE! Jorginho loses out to a combination of pressing from Rodri and Foden. The latter fees Alvarez in the box, but he scuffs his effort straight at Kepa.

34' There is space for Havertz through the middle to release Hall down the left flank, but he underhits his offload to allow Walker to make the interception.

32' Manchester City have scored from their last three penalties awarded in the FA Cup, last failing to score on 7th January 2022 against Swindon Town (penalty missed by Gabriel Jesus).

J. Álvarez

Penalty Goal

30' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! ALVAREZ CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT!!!!! 2-0 CITY!!!! City take control of the game as Alvarez scores from the spot. He shoots low to the bottom-left corner, and although Kepa guesses correctly, Alvarez has just enough power and placement in his strike to beat the Chelsea keeper.

29' VAR! PENALTY TO MANCHESTER CITY! The referee is instructed to look at the screen at the side of the field to review the penalty appeal. It's clear that Havertz punches the ball away from Laporte from Foden's corner. The referee reverses his decision and points to the spot.

28' City appeal for a penalty as Havertz goes to clear a corner from Foden from the left flank. The referee does not see the incident on the field, but it will be looked at by VAR.

27' City pressure down the left flank and Palmer wins a corner off the legs of Gallagher.

25' Manchester City have avoided defeat in their last 16 matches when scoring the opening goal in the FA Cup dating back to 23rd April 2017 against Arsenal (L1-2).

R. Mahrez

Goal

23' WHAT A GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAHREZ CURLS A BEAUTY INTO THE TOP-RIGHT CORNER!!!!! 1-0 CITY!!! The home side take the lead as Mahrez curls a sublime strike past Kepa. The winger connects sweetly with his free-kick angling it away from Kepa into the back of the net. A super effort and his third against Chelsea this season.

22' Hall brings down Mahrez with a loose challenge, handing City a free-kick within range of goal.

21' Ziyech tries to latch on to a long ball over the top and goes down amid pressure from Laporte. He looks to the referee for a penalty as Ortega gathers the loose ball, but the official is not convinced.

19' CHANCE! Silva floats a long ball over the top for the run of Palmer, who collects with Kepa in two minds. He shoots low and hard, but places his effort into the side-netting.

16' Palmer has a charge into the box, but he gets forced backwards. Gomez gathers the loose ball and shoots, only to see his effort charged down.

14' Chelsea are sitting in their shape and are forcing Manchester City to break them down at the back. The home side are not moving the ball quickly enough yet.

12' Gomez twists and turns his way past Chalobah down the left flank to lift a cross into the box for Foden. However, he fouls Koulibaly and gives away a free-kick in the six-yard box.

10' Mahrez glides past Hall down the right flank and looks for a cross into the middle, but Kepa stretches to make the claim at his near post.

9' Rodri gets back to his feet and the game is back under way.

8' Havertz tries to put the pressure on Rodri at the back, but the German catches the midfielder on the ankle giving away a free-kick.

6' Both teams are attempting to get their foot on the ball in the early stages of the contest. It has been a cautious start to the game.

4' Foden and Palmer attempt a double-team down the left flank, but Chalobah is well positioned to block the cross from the latter.

1' We're under way at the Etihad Stadium.

There will be a moment of applause before kick-off in memory of Gianluca Vialli.

This is the eighth meeting between Manchester City and Chelsea in the FA Cup – the Citizens have won four and the Blues have won three of those ties, including each of the last two (5-1 in 2015-16 fifth round, 1-0 in the 2020-21 semi-final).

Chelsea have made six changes to their side from their defeat to City. Humphreys makes his senior debut for the Blues at right-back, while Chalobah and Hall slot into the defence alongside Koulibaly. Mount and Jorginho come into the fold in the midfield. Gallagher joins Havertz and Ziyech in a three-man attack.

City have made seven changes to their side that beat Chelsea in the league four days ago. Ortega comes into the side between the posts, while Akanji, Laporte and Gomez join Walker in the back four. Palmer gets the start in the midfield, while Alvarez and Mahrez get starts in the final third. Haaland, De Bruyne, Ederson, Stones, Cancelo, Gundogan and Ake all drop to the bench.

CHELSEA SUBS: Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Marcus Bettinelli, Denis Zakaria, Datro Fofana, Cesar Azpilicueta, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marc Cucurella, Omari Hutchinson.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Bashir Humphreys; Kalidou Koulibaly, Trevoh Chalobah, Lewis Hall; Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, Mason Mount; Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Conor Gallagher.

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Kalvin Phillips, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo, Ilkay Gundogan, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Rico Lewis.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Stefan Ortega; Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Gomez; Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Cole Palmer; Riyad Mahrez, Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden.

Graham Potter is feeling the pressure in the Chelsea dugout after their loss at the hands of City. The Blues have won only one out of their last six games, increasing the need for a positive result today. Chelsea didn't play poorly against City in the Premier League on Thursday, but failed to take their chances in the first half and were duly punished by Mahrez, who has taken a liking to scoring against the Blues. Potter requires a special effort from his side to advance to the fourth round.

Manchester City only beat Chelsea four days ago in the Premier League courtesy of a strike from Riyad Mahrez. Pep Guardiola and his team will now hope to repeat their success against the Blues in the FA Cup, having already knocked them out of the EFL Cup earlier in the campaign. City were 2-0 winners on home soil in November and appear to have the edge on their rivals on the field at the moment.

Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the FA Cup third-round clash between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City v Chelsea Live Commentary, 08/01/2023

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