HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MATCH, WITH NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT.




Initials RM/V-TELE/CCT/BB


SPORT: SOCCER
EDITORS: COMMENTATOR'S VOICE FOR GUIDANCE ONLY

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CHELSEA BEAT MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 IN THEIR SOCCER MATCH IN LONDON TODAY (SATURDAY) IN SPITE OF BEING REDUCED TO TEN MEN TWO MINUTES BEFORE HALF-TIME WHEN BOYLE, THE CHELSEA RIGHT-BACK, WAS SENT OFF FOR A FOUL, MANCHESTER CITY WERE A DECISIVELY BEATEN SIDE -- THEY COULDN'T EVEN SCORE FROM AN INDIRECT FREE-KICK WELL INSIDE THE PENALTY AREA.

ON A PITCH THAT OFFERED TREACHEROUS FOOTHOLD, MANCHESTER CITY CERTAINLY HAD THEIR CHANCES AND PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST 20 MINUTES OF THE FIRST HALF. CITY'S UNCERTAINTY STEMMED FROM WEAKNESS AT BACK, FOR -- DESPITE TWO GIFTED WIND-HALVES IN DOYLE AND OAKES -- THE SOLIDITY THAT IS NEEDED TO RULE OUT ERROR WAS MISSING.

IT WAS COOKE WHO PAVED CHELSEA'S WAY TO THEIR FIRST GOAL AFTER SIX MINUTES WITH A GLORIOUS CROSS-FIELD PASS TO BOYLE, WHOSE LOW CENTRE BALDWIN CLIPPED IN OFF A POST AFTER AND AGONISING DELAY. JUST BEFORE HALF-TIME, BOYLE WAS SENT OFF BY THE REFEREE. HE PUSHED COLEMAN, RUNNING FULL SPEED IN POSSESSION, AND SENT HIM SPRAWLING. HARRIS OF CITY THEN RAN OVER AND PUSHED BOYLE, WHO FELL DOWN.

WHEN BOYLE WAS SENT OFF, CHELSEA'S LEAD LOOKED 700 SLENDER TO HOLD, BUT FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE INTERNAL BALDWIN GAVE OSGOOD A RETURN PASS. WHILE THE MANCHESTER CITY DEFENCE STOOD AND WATCHED, SEEMINGLY ALMOST ADMIRINGLY, OSGOOD RAN AROUND DOWD AND PRODDED THE BALL INTO THE NET.

THE TEAMS:
CHELSEA: BONETTI; BOYLE; McCREADIE; OSGOOD; (SUB. HINTON 60 MINUTES); WEBB; HARRIS; COOKE; TAMBLING; BALDWIN; BIRCHENALL; HOUSEMAN.

MANCHESTER CITY:
DOWD; KENNEDY; PARDOE; DOYLE; BOOTH; OAKES; LEE; BELL; SUMMERBEE; OWEN; DOLEMAN.