Manchester City's Yaya Toure (left) tackles Chelsea's Willian.

Chelsea's John Terry (left) hugs his teammate Ramires after they defeated Manchester City 1-0 in their English Premier League football match.

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Chelsea neutralised the Premier League's most rampant attack in beating title rivals Manchester City 1-0 yesterday with Branislav Ivanovic's first-half goal ending the deposed leaders' 100 per cent winning record at home.

Ivanovic lashed home a fierce 25-yard shot in the 31st minute to cap a brilliant counter-attacking display by the visitors, who defended supremely against a team that has already scored 115 goals this season in all competitions.

It was the first time City failed to score at home in the league since November 2010 - a streak of 61 matches - and the hosts were lucky not to lose by an even bigger margin, with Chelsea hitting the goal frame three times and threatening almost every time they broke forward.

Chelsea knew a defeat at Etihad Stadium - where City had won all of its 15 domestic league and cup games this season - would leave them six points behind City and potentially out of the title reckoning.

Now, Jose Mourinho's side is level on points with second-place City, leaving Arsenal back on top with a two-point lead in what is proving to be an intriguing three-way race for the championship.

defensive strategist

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 semi-final at the Camp Nou, while Chelsea have 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 City's much-lauded ballplayers into sloppy mistakes, that the visitors could easily have won by three goals. Samuel Eto'o, the excellent Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill all struck the goal frame.

City badly missed the injured 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 couldn't stop Chelsea's midfielders running amok.

Before Ivanovic put Chelsea in front, Ramires had a curling shot saved after running on to a pass from Willian, who had led a 4-on-1 attack on City's 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.