Burnley shocked nine-man Chelsea by beating the champions 3-2 in a thrilling opening Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge.
Captain Gary Cahill was shown a straight red card early on by Craig Pawson for a high tackle on Steven Defour, before Sam Vokes put Burnley ahead (24) with a neat flick inside the area.
Stephen Ward doubled Burnley’s lead with a fierce strike from an angle (39), and Vokes netted again before the break (43) with a free header six yards out.
Substitute Alvaro Morata pulled one back for Chelsea on his debut (69), but Cesc Fabregas was shown a second yellow for a foul late on, having earlier been booked for a sarcastic clap towards Pawson.
David Luiz’s late goal (88) made for a nervy ending, but Burnley held on for a dramatic victory.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men after just 14 minutes as Cahill overran the ball in midfield, before going in studs up on Defour, forcing Pawson to show a straight red.
There were no complaints from new skipper Cahill, but disgruntled Chelsea fans made their feelings known to Pawson before Burnley took the lead on 24 minutes through Vokes, flicking Matt Lowton’s right-wing cross into the bottom far corner from 12 yards.
cond half as Alonso forced two good saves from Tom Heaton, and Morata, who had been introduced just 10 minutes earlier, headed home from close range after Willian’s fine cross for 3-1.
Morata then netted at the far post, but was correctly flagged offside, before Fabregas received a second yellow for a silly late foul on Cork.
Nine-man Chelsea continued to push, however, and somehow halved the deficit as Luiz volleyed home Morata’s flick-on inside the area.
Robbie Brady hit the post from a free-kick a minute later, but after a frantic final few minutes inside Burnley’s penalty area, Sean Dyche’s side were delighted to hear the final whistle.
The stats
*Chelsea are only the second reigning Premier League champions to lose the opening game of the following campaign (also Leicester last season).
*Chelsea are the first reigning Premier League champions to concede three goals in the opening game of the next season.
*Chelsea are the first side to pick up two red cards on the opening day of a Premier League season.
*Sam Vokes has netted seven goals in his last six Premier League games, after managing just five in his previous 58.
*This is the first time that the reigning champions have suffered a defeat on the first matchday in successive top-flight seasons since 1968 (Man Utd 1967/68 & Man City 1968/69).
