toptop





Courtois Off As Chelsea Draw  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea 2 Swansea City 2

Thibaut CourtoisThibaut Courtois was sent off as Chelsea started the defence of their Premier League title with a 2-2 draw against Swansea.

Chelsea took an early lead through Oscar before Swansea debutant Andre Ayew equalised on 28 minutes.

The visitors were level for just 90 seconds though as Federico Fernandez put through his own net.

Courtois was dismissed on 52 minutes for denying Bafetimbi Gomis a clear goalscoring opportunity. Gomis then equalised past substitute 'keeper Asmir Begovic from the resulting penalty.

Jose Mourinho issued a bit of a surprise with his team selection by naming Diego Costa in his line-up after the striker was seemingly still struggling with the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Community Shield.

Costa scored a hat-trick against Swansea in the reverse fixture last season and he was closely guarded by Ashley Williams in the opening stages. However, that focus on Costa couldn’t stop Chelsea taking the lead on 22 minutes.

Oscar was the man to get the goal, fizzing in a cross-shot free-kick from the left flank which evaded everyone in the box and left Lucas Fabianski a little flat-footed as the ball sailed past him into the far corner.

Swansea were more than matching the champions in the early stages and it wasn’t a big surprise when new signing Ayew equalised.

The lively Jefferson Montero made the hard yards down the left flank and floated a brilliant ball into the box that was headed at goal by Gomis.

Courtois made a fine save but Ayew was on hand to force home the rebound at the second attempt.

The teams were level for just 90 seconds though as Fernandez scored a very unfortunate own-goal.

Willian attacked the Swansea centre-back down the left flank and looked to send over a cross into the middle. The ball deflected off the defender and looped over Fabianski into the same corner where Oscar had scored.

The goal failed to deflate the Swans though, who came out all guns blazing after the break.

Jonjo Shelvey hit a post straight from a corner and Montero was denied from close range by Courtois before the goalkeeper was involved in the game changing moment.

Gomis raced through on goal after being played onside by Willian and showed great pace to get to the ball before Courtois, who came flying out of his goal. There was clear contact on the striker and referee Michael Oliver was quick to point to the spot before brandishing a red card in the direction of the goalkeeper.

Begovic had the chance to be an instant hero in front of new fans but Gomis confidently stroked the ball into the net from 12 yards.

Swansea continued to press forward but Begovic stood strong to deny substitute Wayne Routledge from 15 yards.

Radamel Falcao was introduced for his Premier League debut for Chelsea but the best he could muster was a weak shot from the edge of the box that Fabianski saved with ease.

Click Here For Official Teamsheet

Player ratings

Chelsea: Courtois (5); Ivanovic (6), Cahill (6), Terry (6), Azpilicueta (6); Matic (6), Fabregas (6); Willian (7), Oscar (7), Hazard (6); Costa (6).

Subs: Begovic (6), Zouma (6), Falcao (6).

Swansea: Fabianski (6), Naughton (6), Fernandez (6), Williams (7), Taylor (7), Ki Sung-Yueng (6), Shelvey (7), Sigurdsson (7), Ayew (8), Montero (8), Gomis (7).

Subs: Cork (7), Routledge (6), Eder (6).

Man of the Match: Andre Ayew

Teams

Chelsea Courtois (Begovic 54), Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas (Zouma 76), Willian (Falcao 84), Oscar, Hazard, Costa
Subs Not Used Ramires, Mikel, Moses, Remy
Booked Terry
Sent Off Courtois (52)
Goals Oscar 23, Fernandez 30 (og)

Swansea City Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams (c), Taylor, Ki (Cork 41), Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Ayew, Montero (Routledge 71), Gomis (Eder 79)
Subs Not Used Nordfeldt, Rangel, Bartley, Tabanou
Booked Shelvey, Cork, Williams
Goals Ayew 29, Gomis 55 (pen)

Attendance 41,232

Referee Michael Oliver

The Soccerlinks Hit List