Chelsea vs. Swansea: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League
Thibaut Courtois saw red as Chelsea's Premier League title defense began with a thrilling 2-2 draw at home to Swansea City on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues took a 2-1 lead into halftime behind Oscar's free kick and a Federico Fernandez own goal, with Andre Ayew scoring on his debut for Swansea. The match turned in the 52nd minute as referee Michael Oliver sent off Courtois following a foul on Bafetimbi Gomis just inside the box. Gomis converted the penalty three minutes later to give Swansea a share of the points.
Chelsea will feel the red card was harsh, with defender Gary Cahill rushing to cover the goal as Courtois fouled Gomis. Even so, Swansea sparkled in the attack, particularly through Gomis, Andre Ayew and the crafty Jefferson Montero.
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Only one game is complete in the new season, but Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will already have issues to address. Courtois' dismissal means the goalkeeper will be suspended for his side's match against title hopefuls Manchester City next Sunday.
Last season, Petr Cech would have served as a top-class deputy for Courtois, but the Czech joined Arsenal in the summer. That means new signing Asmir Begovic is likely to start against City next weekend.
Swansea and manager Garry Monk will hope to continue their strong start next Saturday with a match at home to Newcastle United.
Chelsea did most of the running in the early stages, but Swansea created the game's first chance as Gomis headed wide of the far post from a seventh-minute corner.
Gomis came close again in the 15th minute, running around John Terry to latch onto a Jonjo Shelvey pass through the lines. Terry recovered to partially block the French striker's shot, and Cahill cleared the danger after the ball trickled past Courtois.
Chelsea appealed for a penalty one minute later as Fernandez brought down Diego Costa with a challenge in the box. Replays suggested Fernandez won the ball cleanly with a well-timed tackle.
The champions soon started to exert pressure more consistently, and the breakthrough came in the 23rd minute. From a position just outside the corner of the box on the left, Oscar drove a free kick toward the back post with the intention of picking out a teammate. Instead, the ball narrowly evaded both Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic and bounced into the net for the opener.
Chelsea's title defense was up and running with the goal, but Swansea quickly drew level. In the 29th minute, Montero created space on the left with his searing speed and crossed for Gomis, whose header drew a save from Courtois. The rebound fell to Ayew, who saw his initial shot blocked. He quickly stood back up and fired into the net for the equalizer.
Swansea opened the 2014-15 Premier League season with a win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Ayew's goal hinted that a similar upset was possible. But Chelsea quickly restored their lead just one minute later.
Attacking straight from kickoff, Willian held possession deep on the left flank and attempted a cross. The ball deflected off Fernandez and looped over the despairing gaze of Lukasz Fabianski and into the net to restore Chelsea's lead at 2-1 heading into halftime.
Swansea suffered a further blow in the 41st minute as Ki Sung-Yueng left the game with an injury. Jack Cork entered as his replacement.
The second half started with a flurry of scoring opportunities for Swansea. In the 47th minute, a Gylfi Sigurdsson free kick deflected off the wall and over the bar. Gomis promptly won another corner, which Fernandez headed off target. In the 50th minute, Sigurdsson curled yet another Swansea corner off the near post.
It had been a worrying start to the second half for the champions, but their problems would only worsen. In the 52nd minute, Shelvey popped a pass through the middle into the path of Gomis, who outpaced Cahill and found himself clear in on goal. As he entered the box, Gomis tipped the ball past Courtois and tumbled as the Chelsea goalkeeper stuck out a leg to intercept.
Referee Michael Oliver awarded a penalty and showed Courtois a red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Gomis converted the spot kick after a lengthy delay, sending Begovic, who had entered the game moments earlier, the wrong way.
At 2-2, Swansea were sensing an opportunity to take all three points, and the visitors had a pair of chances to take the lead soon after. In the 58th minute, Montero cut inside from the left and forced a save out of Begovic with a rasping shot. Three minutes later, the Ecuadorian drew another save with a high drive from a tight angle at the near post.
Multiple chances followed at both ends. Ivanovic headed over the bar in the 66th minute, and Gomis had a goal ruled out for offside two minutes later. Swansea substitute Wayne Routledge curled a weak effort on target in the 73rd minute, shortly before Chelsea's Eden Hazard tested Fabianski with a shot from a tight angle on the right.
Both teams continued to attack as full time approached, but neither found a winner. Begovic stopped an Ayew effort in the 81st minute, and Chelsea substitute Radamel Falcao drew a save from Fabianski with a 20-yard shot three minutes from time.
Selected Player Grades
Bafetimbi Gomis, Swansea: B+
Gomis scored the second goal for Swansea and saw another ruled out for offside. He consistently carried a threat for the visitors, also winning the penalty that he converted.
But the French forward also missed a pair of big chances in the first half, heading off-target from a corner and later taking too long to shoot when played through on goal. Had he converted either of those early chances, Swansea probably would have won the game.
It might be somewhat harsh, but Gomis' grade goes down slightly for those misses.
Jefferson Montero, Swansea: A
Gomis and Ayew scored the goals, but Montero might have been Swansea's best player. The Ecuadorian ran circles around Ivanovic down Chelsea's right flank, delivering dangerous cross after dangerous cross. In addition, he forced Begovic into a pair of saves as Swansea threatened to take the lead in the second half.
One of those crosses led to Swansea's opening goal. Montero did not record an assist on the play, but there was no denying his influence on the game before he made way for Routledge in the 71st minute.
Writing for the Daily Mirror, John Cross noted:
"Before you start, I’m well aware he’s got a shedload of caps for Ecuador. But I’m not sure how much recognition he gets in the Premier League. It’s almost like he’s gone unnoticed - unless you are the opposing full back.
His lightning pace is a nightmare to play against, he always finds a way to create some space and his crossing often leads to danger. His run and cross led to Swansea’s equaliser and his pace terrorised Branislav Ivanovic.
"
Branislav Ivanovic, Chelsea: C
Ivanovic struggled to contain Montero for more than an hour, and his problems continued when Routledge entered the game as the Ecuadorian's replacement.
It would not be fair to heap too much criticism on Ivanovic. Montero played brilliantly and will cause problems for many defenders this season. But for a title-winning side, Ivanovic will hope to perform better.
Reaction
Swansea captain Ashley Williams, via BBC Sport: "(The game) wasn't that nice being a defender, I would have liked it to be tighter but a point at Stamford Bridge is always welcome. When you come back from one goal down here, it's a big thing. If we did that at the home of the champions, you know we've put in a shift."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, via BBC Sport:
"They didn't have chances against 11. The team was playing very, very well in the first half. In the second, in one minute, it was a penalty, red card and the goal—2-2. If you have 10 men and are winning you can defend well and try to find a strategy but to play with 10 men and try to win the game is more difficult. I would say we were the best team with 11 players and with 10 we fought hard, some fighting at the limit of their condition.
"
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