toptop
Chelsea
made it three wins from three with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Newcastle on
Renault Super Sunday.
De Andre Yedlin's unfortunate own goal on 87 minutes sealed the win for Maurizio
Sarri's dominant side - who had 81 per cent possession - after a controversial
finale at St. James' Park.
Eden Hazard fired Chelsea in front from the penalty spot on 76 minutes after
Fabian Schar was harshly penalised for a foul on Marcos Alonso, but Newcastle
were level six minutes later as Joselu's near-post header was allowed to stand,
despite Yedlin catching Olivier Giroud in the face with an elbow in the
build-up.
Chelsea had the final word, though, as Yedlin turned Alonso's cross into his own
net to maintain the Blues' flawless start to the season, and leave Rafa
Benitez's men waiting for their first win.
Player ratings
Newcastle: Dubravka (6), Yedlin (5), Clark (6), Fernandez (6),
Schar (6), Dummett (6), Murphy (6), Diame (6), Ki (6), Ritchie (6), Rondon (6).
Subs: Muto (5), Perez (5), Joselu (6).
Chelsea: Kepa (6), Azpilicueta (7), Rudiger (7), Luiz (6),
Alonso (6), Kante (7), Jorginho (8), Kovacic (7), Pedro (6), Hazard (8), Morata
(6).
Subs: Barkley (5), Giroud (6), Willian (5).
Man of the Match: Eden Hazard.
Newcastle, bolstered by four new signings making their full debuts, set their
stall out from the start and registered the game's first effort on target, Jacob
Murphy's low drive drawing Kepa Arrizabalaga into a save on six minutes.
Chelsea thought they had lost Eden Hazard to injury on 20 minutes but the
Belgian shook off a knock, tormented the Newcastle defence and brought the game
to life as a contest.
Hazard nearly broke the deadlock on 24 minutes but his effort with the outside
of his boot curled away from goal. Six minutes later he embarked on a trademark
run, beating three defenders, but he dragged a shot wide.
The subdued encounter was now frantic as two new Newcastle signings nearly
provided the opener on 34 minutes, but Salomon Rondon headed wide from Federico
Fernandez's cross from the left.
Pedro pounced on a poor clearance from Ki Sung-yeung and whistled a shot wide of
the top corner on 36 minutes, before Martin Dubravka produced a fine save to
keep the Spaniard's low effort out.
Chelsea picked up from where they left off after the interval. An intricate move
released Cesar Azpilicueta in down the right but he fired straight at Dubravka,
before Alvaro Morata's touch let him down after the Chelsea captain found his
compatriot in space in the area.
Antonio Rudiger rattled the crossbar with a thunderous 30-yard drive on 73
minutes before Chelsea were handed the chance to take the lead when referee Paul
Tierney penalised Shcar for a trip on Alonso, despite the Newcastle debutant
appearing to get a touch on the ball.
Up stepped Hazard who made no mistake from 12 yards, rifling the ball to
Dubravka's right, but out of the blue Newcastle were level.
With Giroud on the floor clutching his face after a clash with Yedlin, the
Newcastle full-back whipped a wicked ball in for substitute Joselu to power a
header past Arrizabalaga.
But an unlikely point was snatched out of Newcastle's clutches as Giroud
cushioned Willian's free-kick into the path of Alonso, and his effort cannoned
off Yedlin to break hearts on Tyneside.
Opta stats
Chelsea have registered their first Premier League victory at St James' Park
since December 2011 - drawing one and losing four of their previous five visits.
Chelsea haven't kept a clean sheet at St James' Park since a 3-0 victory in
December 2011 - failing to keep a shutout in their last six visits.
Joselu's goal in the 83rd minute was Newcastle's first shot on target since the
sixth minute and their only shot on target in the second half.
Maurizio Sarri is the fifth Chelsea manager to win his opening three Premier
League games in charge of the club after Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti, Guus
Hiddink and Jose Mourinho.
Jorginho completed 158 passes out of a possible 173 (91.3%), 27 more than the
whole Newcastle side combined (131).
Eden Hazard's goal was his 70th for Chelsea in the Premier League - overtaking
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in third (69); only Frank Lampard (147) and Didier
Drogba (104) have scored more for the Blues.
What's next?
Newcastle travel to Nottingham Forest in the second round of the Carabao Cup on
Wednesday - live on Sky Sports Football - before hosting Manchester City in next
Saturday's teatime kick-off. Chelsea welcome Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge in
one of next Saturday's five 3pm Premier League games.
Teams
Newcastle United Dubravka, Yedlin, Schar (Muto 79), Fernandez,
Clark, Dummett (c), Ritchie, Ki, Diame, Murphy (Perez 73), Rondon (Joselu 62)
Subs Not Used Darlow, Sterry, Langstaff, Atsu
Booked Schar, Fernandez, Ritchie
Goals Joselu 83
Chelsea Kepa, Azpilicueta (c), Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Jorginho,
Kante, Kovacic (Barkley 79), Pedro (Willian 69), Hazard, Morata (Giroud 66)
Subs Not Used Caballero, Zappacosta, Christensen, Loftus-Cheek
Booked Kovacic
Goals Hazard 76 (pen), Yedlin 87 (og)
Attendance 51,791
Referee Paul Tierney