Burnley shock Chelsea at Bridge

Livescores.com

Nine-man Chelsea were shocked by a determined Burnley outfit as they lost their first 2017/18 Premier League match 3-2 at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea 2 Burnley 3Vokes scores opener, Ward adds second and Vokes heads in thirdCahill and Fabregas sent offMorata grabs consolation goalLuiz adds late second for hosts

Match Summary

In the 14th minute, the hosts were stunned after captain Gary Cahill was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Steven Defour. Things got worse for Chelsea in the 24th minute when Matt Lowton was given too much time to cross the ball, and Sam Vokes was able flick it past Courtois from 12 yards out.

In the 39th minute, Chelsea went further behind after Stephen Ward received the ball on the left side of the box, took a touch and fired the ball into the top corner of the goal for Burnley’s second. The visitors added a third in the 43rd minute when Defour cross the ball in from the right and Vokes headed in his second of the day.

Alvaro Morata was brought off the bench for his debut, and grabbed a consolation goal in the 68th minute. Cesc Fabregas was sent off in the 81st minute after receiving a second yellow card. David Luiz grabbed Chelsea’s second in the 87th minute.

Full Report

Chelsea had all the ball early on, but couldn’t capitalise on their early chances. In the seventh minute, Cesc Fabregas floated a good ball in to try and find Michy Batshuayi, but the ball was well claimed by Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

The hosts were then dealt a massive blow after Cahill attempted a run with a ball, but miscontrolled the ball and went studs-up into Defour, leaving referee Craig Pawson with no choice but to show the defender a red card.

Burnley took full advantage of their numbers in the 24th minute after Lowton crossed the ball from the right and Vokes managed to acrobatically flick the ball past Courtois. Chelsea tried to regroup and had the most of the possession but could not break down a stubborn Burnley defence.

In the 39th minute things got worse for the hosts after Ward was found by a good ball from Jack Cork. Ward to a touch and volleyed the ball home from an acute angle to put Burnley 2-0 ahead.

Burnley continued to put pressure on Chelsea and in the 43rd minute a quickly taken free-kick led to Defour crossing the ball in from the right and Vokes was on hand to head it in for his double and Burnley’s third.

After half-time, Chelsea regrouped and tried started pushing for a goal. Marcos Alonso was Chelsea’s main threat and the Spaniard produced a fine save from Heaton in the 51st minute with a long-range effort.

Alonso then had a penalty appeal for hand ball correctly turned down from the referee. Chelsea bought Alvaro Morata on for his debut and the Spanish striker had a shot from thirty yards out fly well over the bar.

Alonso then struck a fine shot on goal in the 63rd minute which was again saved by Heaton. Morata made his mark on the game when he was brilliantly picked out by Willian and headed in a consolation goal for the hosts in the 68th minute.

Chelsea were given confidence by the goal and Morata had potential second correctly ruled out for offside after he tapped it in from an Andreas Christensen cross.

However, in the 81st minute the hosts were dealt a further blow after Fabregas was given his second yellow card and sent off for a challenge on Cork. Chelsea continued to fight on, and were rewarded in the 87th minute after Luiz volleyed home a pass from Azpilicueta to give the hosts hope of a remarkable comeback.

Burnley nearly sealed the win with a fourth after Robbie Brady’s free kick from just outside the box struck the post and was well cleared by the Chelsea defence. Chelsea continued to push for the equaliser in added time, but Alonso’s low effort struck Morata in the 94th minute.