Newcastle United vs Chelsea. Premier League.
St James' Park, NewcastleAttendance51,791.
Highlights and report as Chelsea maintain flawless start to season
Monday 27 August 2018 07:08, UK
Chelsea made it three wins from three with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Newcastle on Renault Super Sunday.
DeAndre 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.
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 Schar 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.
Rafa Benitez: "The penalty was soft. The foul was soft [for the free-kick for the winner]. It's a pity because we were very close. We knew playing open against them, with their ability, they can beat players. I think we did a good job, and it's a pity to lose this way."
Maurizio Sarri: "I was surprised, I have never seen a Rafa Benitez side play with five defenders. I think it is very difficult to play here for every team - not only us. We were a bit unlucky when they scored to make it 1-1."
On his first start of the season, there was no rustiness from Hazard who was exemplary throughout. He registered three more attempts than any other player on the pitch with five efforts on goal, produced a game-high nine touches in the opposition box, completed 91 of his 101 passes and capped it all with Chelsea's opener from the spot.
Quite a lot, to be honest, although had Video Assistant Referee been in use, Chelsea still would have won, albeit in less dramatic circumstances. Schar's challenge on Alonso that handed Chelsea their penalty could have been overturned, and Joselu's equaliser could have been chalked off for a foul on Giroud, but Hazard's spot kick would have been the difference.
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.
