|
Post by Football News on Sept 11, 2016 17:15:57 GMT
Swansea 2 - 2 ChelseaDiego Costa seizes Chelsea a point after Swansea’s rapid turnaround Home team scorersGylfi Sigurdsson 59 Pen Leroy Fer 62 Away team scorersDiego Costa 18 Diego Costa 81 Antonio Conte offered his compatriot and opposite number, Francesco Guidolin, a respectful pat on the shoulder at the final whistle but it was the scowl on the face of Chelsea’s Italian manager that told the truer story. His team have shed the first points of his tenure, a performance that had been so dominant before the interval undermined by defensive indiscipline after the break. Diego Costa’s double ensured they still departed Wales with a point, but a gap has opened up to Manchester City at the top. It was the locals who departed the more satisfied. This was one of those madcap occasions of which the Premier League is so proud, a contest that had once appeared a mismatch eventually providing a compelling if improbable turnaround. The home side will have found reassurance after recent toils in their ability to recover from a slack opening given the visitors had carried all the threat from the outset. There was space to exploit, with Swansea’s initial shape rather awkward, Guidolin’s decision to field three centre-halves and instruct his wing-backs to provide the team’s width proving utterly ineffective. He would sacrifice Neil Taylor, much to the Wales international’s disgust, and revert to a flat back four before the interval but by then the team were playing catch-up. Where the hosts had looked so ill at ease, Chelsea appeared to have maintained the standards from their breeze beyond Burnley just before the international break. N’Golo Kanté busied himself as normal at the base of the midfield, the revived Oscar working feverishly at his side. This side’s improvement has been forged on that midfield industry. They led at the interval and should, by then, have been well on the way to emulating the five-goal thrashing Chelsea had inflicted upon the locals here while winning the title two seasons ago. Lukasz Fabianski had done well to block from Eden Hazard after the Belgian had cut effortlessly through the right side of Swansea’s hesitant defence. The Pole also saved smartly from Willian but was helpless just before the interval when the Brazilian’s corner was flicked on by John Terry and the ball arrived tantalisingly with Costa a yard out. The visitors’ bench sensed reward only for the striker to mistime his shot, squirting his side-foot back across goal rather than into the gaping net. The forward looked as bemused at the miss as his manager, hopping in frustration on the touchline. He had proved more efficient earlier in the contest. Swansea’s uncertainty had contributed to Chelsea securing their lead, with Branislav Ivanovic’s cross nodded up rather than out by Federico Fernández. Fabianski might have claimed the looping ball but dithered, forcing Fernández into a second uncertain header. Oscar duly collected and squared for Costa, who finished crisply into the corner of the net from the edge of the box as opposing players froze. It was a dismal concession, and a series of mistakes to anchor the mood. Discontent had been slowly building in this corner of south Wales, with the focus increasingly fixed upon Guidolin and doubts festering as to whether there is a clear plan in place to guide this team safely into mid-table. The absence of Jefferson Montero from the starting lineup here, and Wayne Routledge from the squad, felt confused given how badly Ivanovic, in particular, has struggled against those galloping wingers in the recent past. The pace of Modou Barrow would duly transform their display after the manager had switched his formation in the wake of Swansea mustering their first effort at goal of any real note. Even then, Gylfi Sigurdsson’s attempt had arced wide of Thibaut Courtois’ post. In that context, that the hosts might rally around the hour-mark felt utterly improbable. They were offered their route back here on the back of Chelsea’s profligacy but also a fragility at the back that must have perplexed even the on-looking substitute David Luiz. The Brazilian’s defensive nous is often questioned but at least he boasts a burst of pace. This back-line creeks too often for comfort. As if to prove that point, Leroy Fer liberated Barrow on the counter to leave the visitors exposed and, with defenders attracted to the winger, Sigurdsson was allowed to dart unchecked through the middle screaming for a pass. The centre was actually overhit along the edge of the area but Courtois, convinced he could intercept, sprang into a challenge and tripped the Icelander. The goalkeeper might have been relieved not to be dismissed but Sigurdsson thumped in the penalty regardless. In the mayhem that ensued, Chelsea’s concentration evaporated entirely. Terry, presumably attempting to draw the sting from the hosts’ intent by instigating a period of calm possession, passed in-field for Cahill to collect facing his own goal. The centre-half dawdled on the ball but was still clearly clattered by Fer, charging in at his back, only for Andre Marriner to permit play to continue. The Dutchman squeezed his shot through the onrushing Courtois and his third goal of term dribbled into the net almost apologetically. It was a remarkable, breathless turnaround. The only regret for Swansea was it did not yield the victory. Chelsea’s response had been urgent, visiting players pouring forward menacingly, and Swansea could not cope. Opportunities had been passed up before Ivanovic turned inside Stephen Kingsley in a cluttered penalty area and saw his shot deflected up from Jordi Amat’s heel towards the far post. Costa was there to spring above Kyle Naughton and batter an overhead kick which cannoned in off Fernández. Man of the match Diego Costa (Chelsea).
|
|