Match Report: Chelsea 2 – Newcastle 0
We made it three wins out of three with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge as Fernando Torres and Eden Hazard scored a goal each to see off the Magpies.
We started the game without John Terry who was ruled out due to a neck injury and Frank Lampard who was rested on the substitute’s bench. Gary Cahill and David Luiz were partnered at centre-back, with Raul Meireles alongside John Obi Mikel in midfield.
New signings Cesar Azpilicueta and Victor Moses were introduced to the Stamford Bridge faithful before kick-off but once the whistle had been blown all eyes were on Eden Hazard.
Once again he was the brightest light in the opening quarter of an hour and as Torres grew into the game we began to ask questions of the Newcastle defence.
Anita’s transition to English football unfortunately for Newcastle was not to be quite as smooth as Hazard’s and when Torres skipped into the box he caught him on the knee with a wild swing of his left boot.
Referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot and Hazard coolly swept the resulting penalty into the bottom corner to Tim Krul’s right.
As we continued to control the first half Torres was unfairly penalised for diving after knocking the ball past Coloccini who caught him as he continued his run.
Cisse and Ba plugged away in attack at the other end while Hatem Ben Arfa hinted that he could be a threat but we were coping comfortably.
Just on the stroke of half time we gave Newcastle a mountain to climb and Hazard was involved again. His combinations with Torres are giving Chelsea fans reason to be increasingly cheerful.
Hazard received Torres’ pass on the edge of the box and turning away from goal completed the one-two by back-heeling into his path. Torres with little space in which to manoeuvre instinctively struck a shot with the outside of his boot that flew into the top corner much to the delight of the Chelsea fans.
Newcastle’s chances of playing their way back into the game after the break showed little chance of happening although they did have more of a share of possession. Torres’ counter-attacking runs continued to prove dangerous and Coloccini, Santon and Anita all needed to either cut out through passes or halt his progress in the Magpies’ half.
With his side unable to create anything meaningful Alan Pardew sent on Ryan Taylor shortly after the hour mark and the change very nearly paid dividends. He curled in a free-kick from the left but Cisse could only head over the bar from point blank range.
Meanwhile Ryan Bertrand flashed a vicious 20-yard shot past Krul’s far post, with a corner awarded despite the Dutchman’s claims to the contrary, and Ba should have done better when he shot too close to Cech from 12 yards after miscuing his initial effort.
The victory never looked in much doubt as we saw the game out to make it three league wins out of three in 2012-13.
Our next match will be for a European title as the Blues will be heading to Monaco to contest the UEFA Super Cup against Atletico Madrid.
Gill Reeves – CSG disabled rep
Chelsea
• 01 Cech
• 02 Ivanovic
• 03 Cole
• 04 David Luiz
• 24 Cahill
• 34 Bertrand
• 12 Mikel
• 16 Meireles (Lampard – 87′ )
• 17 Hazard
• 09 Torres – Booked
• 10 Mata (Ramires – 67′ )
Substitutes
• 22 Turnbull
• 05 Essien
• 06 Romeu
• 07 Ramires
• 08 Lampard
• 11 Oscar
• 23 Sturridge
Newcastle United
• 01 Krul
• 02 Coloccini
• 03 Santon (Marveaux – 74′ )
• 05 Simpson (R Taylor – 64′ )
• 27 S Taylor
• 04 Cabaye (Perch – 77′ )
• 08 Anita
• 10 Ben Arfa
• 18 Gutierrez
• 09 Cisse
• 19 Ba
Substitutes
• 37 Harper
• 06 Williamson
• 14 Perch
• 16 R Taylor
• 17 Amalfitano
• 22 Marveaux
• 25 Obertan
Ref: Dowd
Att: 41,718