Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with victory over Newcastle United in a match featuring three goals in 11 second-half minutes.
Eden Hazard, on his first start this season for the Blues, netted from the penalty spot in the 76th minute before substitute Joselu levelled with a brilliant header at St James’ Park.
But, having been resolute in defence for the majority of the game, Newcastle failed to clear their lines and Marcos Alonso’s shot took a deflection off DeAndre Yedlin.
Chelsea dominated the game with 82% possession and Pedro, Cesar Azpilicueta and Alvaro Morata missed chances.
Antonio Rudiger rattled the crossbar in the 70th minute but Newcastle contained the pressure until Fabian Schar tripped Alonso in the box.
Chelsea’s third win in as many matches moved them level on points with Liverpool and Watford at the top of the table, while Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle have only one point.
READ: Liverpool beat Brighton, go top of Premier League
All defence, no attack for Newcastle
Benitez was forced to make six changes to the side that drew with Cardiff last weekend, with captain Jamaal Lascelles and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey among those absent.
There were reports before the game that Lascelles had been dropped after an argument with Benitez but he insisted the defender was out with a thigh problem.
Benitez’s starting XI, featuring three debutants, held their own as a five-man defence but never looked a threat up front.
Salamon Rondon, making his first start since arriving from West Brom, headed wide in the first half, while Joselu’s 83rd-minute header was one of only two shots on target for the hosts.
The German’s goal caused controversy, with Chelsea substitute Olivier Giroud claiming he was elbowed off the ball by Yedlin in the build-up.
It did not matter as Yedlin’s own goal sent the Magpies to their second defeat of the season.
First start, first goal, first-class Hazard
After a World Cup summer and reports of interest from Real Madrid, Belgium forward Hazard had to settle for two appearances from the bench before this match.
He received a less than friendly welcome by the hosts on his return to the starting XI. In the first minute, he was caught on the back of the ankle by the studs of Matt Ritchie, and was then clattered on the right leg by Mohamed Diame.
Off the ball Hazard moved gingerly at times, but for the most part he was the driving force for Chelsea, whose dogged and unrelenting attack finally came to fruition in the latter stages.
Hazard’s well-taken penalty was his 70th Premier League goal for Chelsea, which puts him behind only Frank Lampard (147) and Didier Drogba (104) in the club record books.
Jorginho completes more passes than Newcastle – match stats
- Jorginho completed 158 passes out of a possible 173, more than the whole Newcastle side combined (131).
- Victory was Chelsea’s first in the Premier League at St James’ Park since December 2011, having drawn one and lost four of their previous five matches.
- Maurizio Sarri is the fifth Chelsea manager to win his opening three Premier League games after Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho.
- All six of Joselu’s six Premier League goals for Newcastle have come at St James’ Park.
