Jamie Trecker
Stevan Jovetic's Manchester City failed to crack Stoke's defense at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Manchester City hit their first speedbump on Saturday in their quest to repeat as Premier League Champions, falling 1-0 to Stoke thanks to a goal from Mame Biram Diouf.
It was only manager Manuel Pellegrini’s second home league loss -- only Chelsea, last March, had managed to derail the Citizens at their Etihad fortress -- but the Potters, playing a gritty and at times expansive game, were a good cut above what looked a very jaded City side Saturday afternoon.
It was only manager Manuel Pellegrini’s second home league loss -- only Chelsea, last March, had managed to derail the Citizens at their Etihad fortress -- but the Potters, playing a gritty and at times expansive game, were a good cut above what looked a very jaded City side Saturday afternoon.
Normally free-scoring City looked leggy and lethargic, and were kept off the board for only the second time in 71 consecutive league games. Several tough tackles -- usually at the boots of Ryan Shawcross -- set the tone for the Potters early on and the Citizens were never really able to get into full flow.
Samir Nasri did force a fine save from Asmir Begovic midway through the first half, but the best chance for the home side came late when Aleksandar Kolarov laid off a ball for Yaya Toure that was crashed off the crossbar.
Samir Nasri did force a fine save from Asmir Begovic midway through the first half, but the best chance for the home side came late when Aleksandar Kolarov laid off a ball for Yaya Toure that was crashed off the crossbar.
But Stoke were arguably the unluckier side. They were denied a clear penalty in the first half when Diouf was hacked down by Gael Clichy after rounding Kolarov. So when Diouf scored on a clean breakaway in the 58th minute following another wild bit of play at the opposite end, it did feel deserved.
Toure had forced Begovic into making a good parry and on the break, Diouf simply ran the length of the field, nutmegging both Fernandinho and Joe Hart to ruffle the back of the net. It was a classic breakway goal, and it would be enough as despite a late flurry from City, it was Stoke who always looked the more threatening.
Toure had forced Begovic into making a good parry and on the break, Diouf simply ran the length of the field, nutmegging both Fernandinho and Joe Hart to ruffle the back of the net. It was a classic breakway goal, and it would be enough as despite a late flurry from City, it was Stoke who always looked the more threatening.
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