Newcastle vs. Chelsea: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League Game
Chelsea's unbeaten start to the Premier League season ended in a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday at St. James' Park.
Substitute Papiss Cisse scored twice for Newcastle after entering in the 53rd minute, giving his side a seemingly unassailable advantage heading into the closing stages. But the Magpies then had to endure a tense finish after defender Steven Taylor saw red and Didier Drogba pulled back a late goal for Chelsea.
Though defeat will not knock Chelsea off their perch atop the Premier League table, it could reinvigorate the title race in England's top flight. The Blues had held a commanding six-point lead heading into Saturday after going 14 games unbeaten to start the season, but Manchester City can now cut the lead to three points with victory at home to Everton later Saturday.
The loss ended Chelsea's 23-match unbeaten run in all competitions, a run that included 17 league matches dating back to the end of last season. Jose Mourinho's side will try to get back on track with a home match against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League. The Blues will then resume Premier League play next Saturday at home to Hull City.
For Newcastle, Saturday's victory continued a strong run of form against Chelsea in recent seasons. Manager Alan Pardew's men have beaten the Blues each of the last three times the two teams have met at St. James' Park, and this latest win will be especially welcome in the blue half of Manchester.
Up next for Newcastle is a trip to Arsenal next Saturday.
Chelsea started well, dominating the opening exchanges and creating several good openings. In the 11th minute, Willian shot just wide of the post after good build-up play along the edge of Newcastle's box. Eden Hazard led a quick counter down the left three minutes later but shot well off target in the end.
Gary Cahill headed over the bar from a Cesc Fabregas corner in the 16th minute, and Willian curled another effort just wide three minutes later.
Newcastle began to gain a foothold midway through the half and created a first clear chance in the 32nd minute. Sammy Ameobi started the move with an entry pass to Ayoze Perez from the left. Holding up the ball along the edge of the box, Perez picked out Jack Colback's run with a clever pass around the corner. Colback placed his low shot on target, but Thibaut Courtois saved from close range.
It was a warning sign for Chelsea, who then resumed their dominance as half-time approached. Willian had a strong shot saved in the 41st minute, and Oscar directed an overhead kick just wide of the near post four minutes later.
Newcastle were forced into a change at half-time, Jak Alnwick replacing injured goalkeeper Rob Elliot. Alnwick was called into action quickly, clearing a Fabregas free-kick in the 49th minute with Diego Costa lurking dangerously in the Newcastle box.
The Magpies made another change in the 53rd minute, Pardew bringing on Cisse for Remy Cabella. The move quickly paid dividends as Newcastle took the lead just four minutes later.
Moussa Sissoko led the move, attacking quickly down the left before laying off for Ameobi near the touchline. Ameobi hit a cross toward the near post, where Cahill moved to block. Instead, the Chelsea defender mishit the ball into the path of Cisse, who tapped in to give Newcastle a 1-0 lead.
It was nearly 2-0 in the 60th minute, but Sissoko headed over the bar from close range after Chelsea were unable to clear a corner.
Mourinho reacted by introducing Andre Schurrle for Oscar in the 61st minute. The German tried a shot from distance within moments of coming on, but Alnwick saved comfortably.
The visitors made two more changes in the 67th minute as Filipe Luis and Didier Drogba entered the match, the latter joining Costa in the attack as Chelsea chased an equaliser.
From there, the two sides settled into a clear pattern, Chelsea attacking relentlessly as Newcastle sat deeper and deeper to defend. The Blues came agonisingly close in the 78th minute as Branislav Ivanovic rolled a pass to Hazard, who shot off the base of the far upright.
Moments later, the hosts doubled their lead with a devastating counter.
After Hazard was caught in possession, Colback led a quick attack down the middle, passing to Sissoko in the middle. He lost control as Courtois rushed out to block, but the ball rolled to an unmarked Cisse, who swept into the unguarded net for a 2-0 Newcastle lead.
Newcastle were in heaven, but the hosts quickly came back to earth in the 82nd minute as Taylor saw red for his second bookable offence (a lunge on Schurrle). Moments later, Pardew brought on Mike Williamson to shore up his side's defence.
It made little difference on the ensuing free-kick, however, as Drogba rose highest to head in Fabregas' lofted pass to pull a goal back for Chelsea. Suddenly the Blues were back in the match, chasing the equaliser once again with a renewed sense of purpose.
Cahill headed straight at Alnwick from an 86th-minute corner and Drogba volleyed wide—but was called offside anyway—two minutes later. Alnwick then tipped over a curling effort by Costa in the 89th minute as Newcastle held grimly to their lead.
Alnwick saved again in the 90th minute, keeping out a long-distance shot by Luis. In the fourth of six minutes of stoppage time, John Terry flicked a header narrowly wide of the post.
Grades
| Rob Elliot | 6.8 |
| Daryl Janmaat | 7.1 |
| Fabricio Coloccini | 6.8 |
| Steven Taylor | 6.3 |
| Paul Dummett | 7.5 |
| Moussa Sissoko | 7.1 |
| Cheick Tiote | 7.5 |
| Jack Colback | 7.6 |
| Sammy Ameobi | 6.6 |
| Ayoze Perez | 7.1 |
| Remy Cabella | 6.6 |
| Jak Alnwick (for Elliot, 46') | 6.9 |
| Papiss Cisse (for Cabella, 53') | 7.7 |
| Mike Williamson (for Ameobi, 83') | 6.2 |
| Thibaut Courtois | 6.4 |
| Branislav Ivanovic | 7.1 |
| Gary Cahill | 6.8 |
| John Terry | 7.3 |
| Cesar Azpilicueta | 7.1 |
| Cesc Fabregas | 8.1 |
| John Obi Mikel | 7.2 |
| Willian | 6.9 |
| Oscar | 6.7 |
| Eden Hazard | 7.2 |
| Diego Costa | 6.7 |
| Andre Schurrle (for Oscar, 61') | 6.4 |
| Filipe Luis (for Azpilicueta, 67') | 6.7 |
| Didier Drogba (for Willian, 67') | 7.4 |
Reaction
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew (via PremierLeague.com):
"That wasn't about substitutions. It was about character and discipline against the best team in Europe at the moment. At the start we stood off them, but we stuck at it and were always a threat. For us it's a special day and it's special day for Jak (Alnwick).
At the end there were chances where we had two players blocking it. It was a real team effort. We're in it together, we had a tactical plan and it worked quite well. I am absolutely delighted for our fans, and it makes it more interesting for everyone else. (Chelsea) had chances, but you have to ride your luck. They'll take some stopping but today was our day.
"
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (via PremierLeague.com):
"No complaints. (We were) unlucky. We had lots of chances to score in the first (half), we didn't. In the second we had chances, but they defended (well), and the first time they go there (Chelsea's penalty box) they scored a goal.
Then they get everyone behind the ball against a team that tried everything until the last second. We wanted to play more foot but it wasn't possible, no complaints. We didn't deserve this, but it is the result we had. We have to accept it and move on.
"
