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Lampard equalizer earns City 1-1 draw VS Chelsea

Frank Lampard of Manchester City is congratulated by John Obi Mikel of Chelsea after the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium. Picture Credit: Getty Images
Frank Lampard of Manchester City is congratulated by John Obi Mikel of Chelsea after the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad Stadium. Picture Credit: Getty Images

Frank Lampard scored a late equalizer against his former club Chelsea to earn 10-man Manchester City a 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Sunday and end the leaders' winning start to the season.

Lampard, who was released by Chelsea this summer after scoring a club-record 211 goals in 13 years, held his arm out and refused to celebrate after his side-footed shot deflected in off John Terry in the 85th minute.

City right back Pablo Zabaleta was sent off in the 66th after picking up a second booking, and Chelsea capitalized by opening the scoring five minutes later when substitute Andre Schuerrle tapped in Eden Hazard's low cross.

Chelsea dropped points for the first time in five games but still holds a three-point lead over Southampton and is five clear of City - arguably its biggest rival for the title.

It was a typical late surge into the box by Lampard, who had only come on as a substitute seven minutes earlier as City fought back after going a man and a goal down. He looked emotional as he walked off, head down, after the ball hit the net and didn't want to celebrate with his joyous teammates.

"I'm a bit lost for words - I didn't expect to score like that," Lampard said. "I'm a bit stuck in the middle."

Chelsea fans had been singing Lampard's name throughout the match, hailing one of the club's greatest servants who was allowed to join New York City in the summer. Lampard is spending the first half of the season on loan at City, the parent club of New York City.

City is now winless in four games in all competitions but came back well after losing Zabaleta, who lunged at Diego Costa near the halfway line and became entangled with the Spain striker.

Chelsea did the double over City last season, with its win at Etihad Stadium in February widely hailed as a tactical clinic from Jose Mourinho. And the Portuguese coach was happy to ditch the flamboyance that had helped his team claim four straight win for what will probably be its toughest match of the campaign.

It made for a tense, edgy and physical battle that was dominated by defenses, with Eliaquim Mangala enjoying a strong starting debut for City after his big-money summer move from Porto.

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the first half and Costa, who had scored seven goals so far and at least one in every match, was a peripheral figure.

City started the second half well, with Sergio Aguero forcing a save out of Thibaut Courtois and Edin Dzeko denied on the rebound by a lunging tackle from Ramires.

But the game turned on Zabaleta's sending off and within five minutes Costa led a counterattack by Chelsea and Hazard crossed for Schuerrle to tap in at the far post.

Lampard had the last say, though.

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