Chelsea 4-2 Swansea: Diego Costa bags hat-trick and Loic Remy nets debut goal after John Terry scores early own goal

Chelsea 4-2 Swansea: Diego Costa bags hat-trick and Loic Remy nets debut goal after John Terry scores early own goal

  • Hat-trick hero Diego Costa took his goal tally to seven goals in four games since joining the Blues
  • Fellow striker Loic Remy also managed to get himself on the scoresheet at Stamford Bridge
  • An own goal by John Terry saw Swansea take the lead against Jose Mourinho's side
  • Jonjo Shelvey scored a late consolation goal for the Swans 

If Diego Costa had cost £320million, he'd still be worth it.
What an introduction to English football the Spain international has made.
He took his goal tally to seven in four games since arriving from Atletico Madrid for £32million deal with a hat-trick against Swansea as Chelsea stayed top of the Barclays Premier League.
Something had to give with two 100 per cent records on the line.
Chelsea's start to the season has only served to strengthen the notion Jose Mourinho's side will be the team to beat in this season's title race.
Chelsea summer signing Diego Costa showed his class by netting a hat-trick against Swansea City 
Chelsea summer signing Diego Costa showed his class by netting a hat-trick against Swansea City 
Former Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy scored on his Chelsea debut to make it 4-1
Former Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy scored on his Chelsea debut to make it 4-1
John Terry congratulates Diego Costa following his hat-trick against Garry Monk's side
John Terry congratulates Diego Costa following his hat-trick against Garry Monk's side
Diego Costa levelled the scoring just before the interval by scoring a header past Swansea goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski
Diego Costa levelled the scoring just before the interval by scoring a header past Swansea goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski
Chelsea captain John Terry sunk to his knees after his own goal gave Swansea the lead after just 11 minutes
Chelsea captain John Terry sunk to his knees after his own goal gave Swansea the lead after just 11 minutes
There chances of a fourth consecutive victory were reinforced by the news that Costa was fit to start following a hamstring injury sustained on international duty.
Swansea's impressive opening to the new campaign hasn't been so expected, though.
Victories over Manchester United, Burnley and West Brom have eased early fears that Swansea were destined for a relegation battle.
And their start at Stamford Bridge merely underlined the impressive progress made under Garry Monk as they stormed into an 11th minute lead.
It was slick, too. Left-back Neil Taylor latching on to Ki Sung-Yeung's defence splitting pass before rolling in a dangerous low cross from the left.
The Welshman's pass was destined for Nathan Dyer at the back-post, but John Terry, in attempting to cut out the cross, thumped the ball past Thibault Courtois and into his own net.
John Terry looked dismayed after Swansea took the lead at Stamford Bridge against Jose Mourinho's side
John Terry looked dismayed after Swansea took the lead at Stamford Bridge against Jose Mourinho's side
Swansea celebrate their opening goal after John Terry managed to score an own goal past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois
Swansea celebrate their opening goal after John Terry managed to score an own goal past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois

MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS 

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 7; Ivanovic 6.5, Cahill 6, Terry 5.5, Azpilicueta 6.5; Matic 6.5, Fabregas 8 (Salah 82 - 6); Schurrle 6 (Ramires 46 - 7), Oscar 7, Hazard 7.5; Diego Costa 9.5 (Remy 72 - 7)
Subs not used: Cech, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Salah, Willian
Swansea (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 6; Rangel 6.5, Amat 6 (Fernandez 46 - 5), Williams 5.5, Taylor 6.5; Ki 7.5, Shelvey 6; Sigurdsson 6.5, Dyer 6, Routledge 6.5 (Montero 66 - 6); Gomis 7 (Bony 76 - 6)
Subs: Tremmel, Tiendalli, Carroll, Emnes
Referee: Kevin Friend 6
By Jack Gaughan 
The travelling support were in frenzy, their manager, however, was motionless on the touchline.
He must have been bubbling over inside, though, as his side's excellent stat to the season showed zero sign of letting up.
Bafetimbi Gomes went within a whisker of doubling Swansea's advantage three minutes later, firing narrowly wide from 20 yards after a bulldozing run through the heart of Chelsea.
The visitors went closer in the 19th minute, Wayne Routledge sending a right-foot curler inches wide of Courtois' far post after Dyer tormented Cesar Azpilicueta.
Dyer's mesmerising run would have impressed England manager Roy Hodgson, who was at Stamford Bridge.
Hodgson has so far ignored the burgeoning clamour to include Dyer in his England plans.
More performances similar to his first-half display against Swansea then Hodgson won't be able to ignore Dyer for much longer.
If Swansea were 3-0 up by this point, Mourinho could have had no complaints.
The visitors were bright, inventive and dangerous; Gomis' strength in a lone striker role reminiscent of a certain Didier Drogba.
Chelsea on the other hand were less impressive. Lethargic, sloppy and inefficient.
Diego Costa, who had to undergo a late fitness test, managed to shake off a slight knock to start against Swansea City
Diego Costa, who had to undergo a late fitness test, managed to shake off a slight knock to start against Swansea City
Fans, officials and players paid tribute to Chelsea fan Lord Attenborough who passed away on August 24
Fans, officials and players paid tribute to Chelsea fan Lord Attenborough who passed away on August 24
Chelsea's starting line-up applaud to celebrate the life of legendary film director Lord Attenborough
Chelsea's starting line-up applaud to celebrate the life of legendary film director Lord Attenborough
Chelsea paid homage to Lord Attenborough by placing him on the cover of their official matchday programme
Chelsea paid homage to Lord Attenborough by placing him on the cover of their official matchday programme
Cesc Fabregas is congratulated by his team-mates after he sets up Diego Costa for the striker's second goal
Cesc Fabregas is congratulated by his team-mates after he sets up Diego Costa for the striker's second goal
Diego Costa jumps in the air after scoring against Swansea - while Chelsea fans celebrate his goal in the Stamford Bridge stands
Diego Costa jumps in the air after scoring against Swansea - while Chelsea fans celebrate his goal in the Stamford Bridge stands
Slowly but surely, however, Mourinho's men awoke from their Saturday afternoon slumber.
Andre Schurrle and Cesc Fabregas wasted free-kicks, both won by Eden Hazard, in threatening positions, before Oscar failed to direct a header goalwards following Branislav Ivanovic's cross.
The Brazil international saw his low effort from the edge of penalty area saved by Lukasz Fabianski, before Hazard fired a cross-come-shot wide after Fabregas' excellent pass.
Chelsea weren't merely turning the screw, they were tightening it.
So it was no surprise when the home side pulled level in the final minute of the first half. The scorer wouldn't have been a surprise either.
It was, of course, Costa with the simplest of headers from Fabregas' corner after some slack Swansea marking.
The Spaniard's goal saw him become the first Chelsea player to score in his first four games for the club since John Meredith achieved the feat in 1928.
Costa nearly scored again in the 52nd minute, but his goalward volley from another Fabregas corner deflected off Hazard before flying wide.
But he didn't have wait much longer, just three more minutes in fact, finishing off an attractive Blues move to score his sixth of the season - one more Premier League goal than Fernando Torres scored in the whole of last season.
Fabregas and Hazard cut Swansea's left-hand side open with some intricate passing leaving Costa to fire the Spaniard's cut-back past Fabianski to put Chelsea ahead.
Their abject start to the first half was a distant memory now; Chelsea were vibrant and threatening - looking every inch title contenders.
And who else but Costa sealed all three points for Mourinho's men with another simple finish, tapping past Fernandes after Ramires' mishit shot from the edge of the area.
Costa was given a huge ovation, perhaps the biggest round of applause coming from owner Roman Abramovich, as he was replaced by debutant Loic Remy with 20 minutes left on the clock.
And it took the France international just 10 minutes to open his Blues account, firing an unstoppable right foot drive past Fabianski after Oscar's pass before Jonjo Shelvey scored a consolation for Swansea four minutes from time.
Swansea's defenders such as Ashley Williams, pictured, failed to cope with the outstanding Diego Costa
Swansea's defenders such as Ashley Williams, pictured, failed to cope with the outstanding Diego Costa
Chelsea new boy Loic Remy replaced fellow striker Diego Costa in the 72nd minute
Chelsea new boy Loic Remy replaced fellow striker Diego Costa in the 72nd minute
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho congratulated hat-trick hero Diego Costa after the Spanish striker was replaced by Loic Remy
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho congratulated hat-trick hero Diego Costa after the Spanish striker was replaced by Loic Remy
Loic Remy was in buoyant mood after he grabbed a goal on his debut against the Swans at the Bridge
Loic Remy was in buoyant mood after he grabbed a goal on his debut against the Swans at the Bridge
Defenders John Terry and Gary Cahill congratulate Loic Remy after the Frenchman scores on his Chelsea debut
Defenders John Terry and Gary Cahill congratulate Loic Remy after the Frenchman scores on his Chelsea debut
Ramires also congratulated new team-mate Loic Remy following the Frenchman's first goal for the west London outfit
Ramires also congratulated new team-mate Loic Remy following the Frenchman's first goal for the west London outfit
Swansea striker Bafetibis Gomis of Swansea beats Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill but fails to score during the Premier League encounter
Swansea striker Bafetibis Gomis of Swansea beats Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill but fails to score during the Premier League encounter
Swansea boss Garry Monk raises his hands in the air after watching his side concede four goals against Premier League leaders Chelsea
Swansea boss Garry Monk raises his hands in the air after watching his side concede four goals against Premier League leaders Chelsea

MATCH ZONE 

CLICK HERE for all facts, stats and graphics from the big match at Stamford Bridge, including Diego Costa's heat map


Post a Comment

0 Comments