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17.11.2018 06:05
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MANCHESTER, England -- Chelsea delivered a potent mix of defensive resilience and effective counter-attacking in a 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Monday, neutralizing the Premier Leagues most rampant attack to provide a new twist in the title race. Branislav Ivanovic lashed home a fierce 25-yard shot in the 31st minute to end Citys 100 per cent winning record at home in the league and earn Chelsea the double over most pundits favourites for the title. The visitors could have won by more, hitting the goal frame three times and threatening almost every occasion they broke forward. It meant Arsenal returned to the top of the standings, with a two-point lead over City and Chelsea, in what is proving to be a thrilling title race. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho continues to rule his evolving team out of contention, but few will take him seriously after this performance. "Two horses and a little horse," was Mourinhos description of the title race, which has 14 more matches to run. "A little horse that still needs milk and to learn how to jump. A horse that next season can race." City has been the leagues thoroughbreds this season, winning all 15 of its domestic home games and scoring 115 goals in all competitions. Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham -- among others -- have all been crushed at Etihad Stadium this season. A win here would have put six points between City and Chelsea -- to many, the second favourites for the title, despite Mourinhos protestations to the contrary -- but its all to play for now. "I think that for Chelsea it was a decisive game, but not for us," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. Mourinho is renowned around the football world as the master defensive strategist. Few will forget how his Inter Milan side nullified Barcelona in the 2010 Champions League semifinal at the Camp Nou, while Chelsea has already ground out 0-0 draws at Manchester United and Arsenal this season. It was different here, though. Chelsea counter-attacked with such pace and purpose, and hounded Citys much-lauded ball-players into sloppy mistakes, that the visitors could easily have won by three goals. Samuel Etoo hit the bar and the excellent Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill struck the post. Bayern Munich is the only team to have beaten City at Etihad Stadium this season and Chelseas supreme display had echoes of that dismantling in the Champions League back in September. It was the first time City failed to score at home in the league since November 2010 -- a streak of 61 matches. The home side badly missed injured top scorer Sergio Aguero but also holding midfielder Fernandinho, who was ruled out at the last minute with a muscle injury. Martin Demichelis -- a centre back -- filled in in central midfield and couldnt stop Chelseas midfielders running amok. "We love it -- we love the big games," said Mourinho, who revealed that he left the clubs masseur, Billy McCulloch, to do the pre-match team talk. "Obviously when you love it, maybe you feel extra motivated for that." Before Ivanovic put Chelsea in front, Ramires had a curling shot saved after running onto a pass from Willian, who had led a 4-on-1 attack on Citys beleaguered defence. The goal arrived soon after, with City captain Vincent Kompany diving to block Ramires shot but seeing the ball squirt out to Ivanovic, who drove a powerful first-time shot with his left foot into the bottom corner. And moments before halftime, Eden Hazard skirted round Pablo Zabaleta and crossed for Etoo to smash a shot against the top of the bar. Citys defensive frailties were being exposed but the hosts were also quiet -- by their standards -- going forward. Alvaro Negredo was virtually anonymous, although Pellegrini later said the striker wasnt 100 per cent, and the only attacking thrusts were provided by Yaya Toure, who curled one shot over, set up David Silva for a great chance that was glanced just wide and just missed a fizzing cross from Aleksandr Kolarov. Mourinho had City just where he wanted them -- and it almost got worse for Pellegrinis side when Matic strode forward and crashed a 30-yard effort against the post. Cahill then leapt to meet Willians corner with a header that cannoned off the post, further incensing the home crowd. City was reeling but finished strongly, with Silva denied by Petr Cech from a free kick then sidefooting wide from Kolarovs cross. And in the final seconds, substitute Stevan Jovetics long-range shot was tipped over by Cech. But Mourinho and Chelsea finally showed just how City can be stopped. Royals Jorge Bonifacio Jersey . 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LOS ANGELES -- One mistake by John Lackey gave the Los Angeles Dodgers their fourth win in a row. Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth and Ricky Nolasco pitched eight innings of two-hit ball in a 2-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night in the opener of an interleague series that began as a matchup between first-place teams. The Dodgers earned their major league-leading 18th shutout of the season while improving to 46-10 since June 22. They opened a 10 1/2 game lead in the NL West, their biggest margin since holding the same lead on Sept. 28, 1977. "Weve been playing great," Nolasco said. "Were just staying with our focus no matter what the opponent is. We know how big it is to keep our A game going." The Red Sox lost for the sixth time in eight games and fell percentage points behind Tampa Bay in the AL East standings. David Ortiz was hitless in three at-bats. Dustin Pedroia, Daniel Nava and Stephen Drew got the only hits off Nolasco. He and Lackey dueled through much of Bostons first visit to Dodger Stadium since 2002. They combined for just five hits in a game that lasted 2 hours, 7 minutes, the Dodgers shortest of the season. "I had a lot of pitches going," Nolasco said. "Youre just trying to match him. He just made one mistake and pitched a great game as well." Nolasco (10-9) struck out six and walked none in tying his longest outing of the season. The right-hander reached double-digit victories for the sixth consecutive season, joining teammate Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia as the only pitchers to do so every year since 2008. "Weve had some guys throw very well against us this year," Boston manager John Farrell said. "But from a right-hander, this is probably as good a start as weve seen against us." Nolasco is 5-1 in nine starts since being acquired from Miami. The Dodgers starting rotation hasnt allowed a run in its last 23 innings and the staff improved to 18-2 with a 1.77 ERA in 27 games since July 26. "As you get deeper into the season these guys start dominating," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Ricky made it look easy. He gets a variety of breaking balls over to get ahead in the count and then he can change speeds. Whhen he gets in a bit of trouble, he has another gear.ddddddddddddHe doesnt seem to get rattled out there." Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 22nd save in 25 chances. Lackey (8-11) gave up two runs and three hits in eight innings, struck out six and walked none in his first complete game since Sept. 10, 2009, when he was with the Angels. The right-hander has received no runs of support six times this season. "Thats about as good as Ive felt this year. I had everything pretty much working for me," Lackey said. "Its frustrating when one pitch can decide a game. I enjoy these kind of games. Ive been in a bunch of them. It definitely heightens the focus a little bit." Ramirez sent a 1-2 pitch over the wall in centre field, scoring Carl Crawford, who led off with a single and stole second. Jacoby Ellsbury climbed the wall while attempting to make the catch. "He was trying to quick-pitch me. Maybe try to get me off-balance," Ramirez said of Lackey. "You got to stay tough and keep fighting until the mistake happens. We knew it wouldnt be easy with him. He was throwing a lot of strikes." Crawford was part of the blockbuster, nine-player deal between the Red Sox and Dodgers last August. He was 2 for 3 against his old team. Los Angeles got Crawford, pitcher Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto in exchange for James Loney, Ivan DeJesus Jr., pitchers Allan Webster and Rubby De La Rosa, and Jerry Sands. The Red Sox had the tying runs at first and second with one out in the fifth, but Will Middlebrooks grounded into a double play to end the inning. "With the exception of the back-to-back base hits in the fifth, every ball we squared up was right at someone," Farrell said. NOTES: Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully confirmed he will return in 2014 to call all Dodgers home games and road games in California and Arizona. It will be his 65th season with the team. ... Mattingly said slugger Matt Kemp is getting better, but hes not ready to return yet from a sprained left ankle. ... In 2002, the Red Sox were swept in three games in their only other trip to Dodger Stadium. ... Eight of Bostons last 12 losses have been by two runs or less. ... Boston was shut out for the 10th time this season. 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