Rodri rescues Manchester City's draw against Chelsea after Sterling's goal | first division

Frantic, open and with a Rodri rocket in the 83rd minute of a city ​​of manchester The equalizer came from Trevoh Chalobah's knee to send the home faithful wild – this brilliant contest ended with Chelsea gaining a point and the champions losing two as they attempt to defend the title again.

After 11 consecutive victories, the expected narrative was the 12th for City, which would previously equal Liverpool and Arsenal, who had both won.

At halftime the script was destroyed, because Chelsea He led through a classic counter-attacking goal from Raheem Sterling and Pep Guardiola's players were left stunned, unable to intimidate their guest. However, City's iron will secured a draw that could prove invaluable come May and the championship is decided.

Slippery from the rain and under the lights, this had atmosphere. There was a wake-up call for Sterling, who was sleeping while Kyle Walker attacked him and started a purring play that ended with Julián Álvarez's shot going wide.

It was smooth. So was the opening designed for Conor Gallagher. Cole Palmer turned infield, threw the ball to Enzo Fernandez, whose instant break brought in Gallagher, but he crossed instead of shooting.

Face to face so far, like half. Álvarez then slid down the left and fired at Erling Haaland, whose header was wild. Sterling turned and shot into Ederson's gloves. A gunpowder clearance from the latter precipitated a Chelsea raid that required a sliding challenge from Nathan Aké to thwart Palmer's free kick.

Now, a golden opportunity. Palmer created a rearguard divider that led to Malo Gusto skating down the right. He rolled the ball across the turf towards where Nicolas Jackson would ask him, but dallied, allowing Ederson a crucial fraction to smother the effort.

Chelsea's game plan included harassing those wearing lighter blue shirts. Example: Moisés Caicedo overturning Jérémy Doku and moments later repeating the act on the Belgian. It was about cutting off City's pace and meant the champions were clinging to moments rather than enjoying their normal dominance, and Chelsea could be satisfied.

His was a statement of defiance and unwillingness to go down easily as many visitors here do. The question, however, was the old one: how long could they resist the cunning and power of the host? Palmer offered the best response by creating the first goal.

First, he went over Aké to unsettle City. Moments later, he cut the ball wide right to Jackson. His throw encouraged Sterling, who turned to leave Walker lying on the turf before firing the ball home.

Cut to the benches where Mauricio Pochettino was jumping in pure delight and Guardiola was an enraged man because this was the textbook way to break his side. Guardiola usually gives an answer to the insult of falling behind, often with Kevin De Bruyne, and there was one, as soon as the second half began: Caicedo, already booked for a new foul on Doku, brought down Rodri and raised the Belgian. ripple the free kick along the roof of the net.

De Bruyne brought on Walker, who tangled with Sterling in the area. The captain shouted for a penalty, as did his and Guardiola's teammates, but the VAR, correctly, said no, and it was shown that Walker had kicked Sterling's foot first.

The 1-0 draw was a sight close to a repeat of the thrilling 4-4 ​​draw in the second leg in November, as on two occasions Chelsea could have doubled the lead. Gallagher lost his cool at close range, before Sterling, a similar distance away, saw Ederson parry his effort, Ben Chilwell failing to convert seconds later.

City took their turn to bombard the goal. Phil Foden's volley was blocked by Axel Disasi, Haaland's subsequent attack was also repelled, as was an angled strike from the Norwegian; Gusto and his goalkeeper, Dorde Petrovic, save Chelsea.

Chelsea had City at a distance but could not contain them. Now came Rodri's intervention: his cries of come on in his native Spanish, a rallying cry, not just for City's breathless finish but for the rest of the campaign.

In the last seconds, Levi Colwill avoided a VAR penalty by challenging Rúben Dias: it was because of the type of hand – movement of the arm towards it – that can be given. But not tonight.