EPL: City set record with 2-1 win over Chelsea

London: Manchester City narrowed the gap on leader Manchester United to a single point on Wednesday, scoring twice in the last 13 minutes to beat Chelsea 2-1 and win a Premier League-record 20th straight home game.

Chelsea led through Gary Cahill's 60th-minute deflected shot but Sergio Aguero leveled the scores in the 78th with a penalty and Samir Nasri scored the winner seven minutes later following an exchange of passes with Carlos Tevez, who returned to action after six months away.

"When they scored, I think we didn't deserve to go behind," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "But we wanted, we desired to win this game.

Manchester City beat Chelsea to win a Premier League-record 20th straight home game.

"It's more than three points, this game."

Chelsea had won four straight under new coach Roberto Di Matteo but their opening goal came completely against the run of play. Ramires forced a corner on the right wing, City failed to clear the cross and Cahill pounced on the loose ball to hit a shot that bobbled off Yaya Toure to leave City goalkeeper Joe Hart stranded.

The goal prompted Mancini to introduce Tevez, who was on strike for some of the past six months following a dispute that began in September when he refused to warm up as a substitute in a Champions League match, as a 66th-minute substitute.

Tevez was met by a mix of cheers and jeers but Aguero soon equalized with his penalty after Pablo Zabaleta's shot ricocheted off Michael Essien's arm.

Tevez had a crucial part in the winning goal as his deft pass on the turn allowed Nasri to break into the box and lift a shot over goalkeeper Petr Cech.

"I am really happy for him," Nasri said. "He has showed great spirit and today showed he can be really important until the end of the season.

"It's good that it was him who gave the assist."

City has 69 points to United's 70 with nine games remaining and Chelsea in fifth place with 49 points.

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