2 years ago
24
ARTICLE AD BOX
Newcastle wanted Chelsea's Kai Havertz to be sent off for elbowing Dan Burn, but Havertz only received a yellow card after a check by the video assistant refereeChelsea snatched a dramatic winner against Newcastle in the first game at Stamford Bridge since Blues' Russian owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government.
The game looked to be heading towards a goalless draw before Kai Havertz expertly controlled a ball forward and fired into the net in the 88th minute.
It was a tough goal to concede for Newcastle who had wanted Havertz to be sent off in the first half for catching Dan Burn in the face with an elbow when jumping, but the German only received a booking.
Before the goal, both sides had struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Chelsea taking 75 minutes to produce an effort on target.
Newcastle's Miguel Almiron had earlier forced a fine save from home goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with a well-struck 25-yard volley and Burn headed just wide.
Just as had happened in Chelsea's 3-1 away win over Norwich on Thursday, a small section of fans chanted Abramovich's name, for a brief period in the second half.
Abramovich has been sanctioned as a part of the government's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, meaning his assets, including Chelsea Football Club, have been frozen.
- Prospective owner Candy wants fan on club board if Chelsea takeover successful
- Chelsea v Newcastle as it happened, plus reaction and analysis
A good end to a tough week for Chelsea and Tuchel
Chelsea stay third, but are now only seven points behind second-placed Liverpool and 10 adrift of leaders Manchester City. Meanwhile, Newcastle, beaten for the first time in nine Premier League matches, drop to 14th, but are 10 points clear of the relegation zone
The relief and delight shown from Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, both at the goal and again at the final whistle, showed what this meant to him by screaming at the fans and punching the air.
And it was easy to see why he was so emotional with the club's very existence potentially under threat.
Abramovich has been the Chelsea owner for nearly 19 years, a period in which they have won 21 trophies, including the Premier League on five occasions and the Champions League twice.
But the current sanctions against him have stopped him selling Chelsea, and mean the club are unable to buy or sell players, cannot sell any more tickets for games, have had their bank accounts suspended and have had to close the club shop.
The government said it would issue a special licence that allowed fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches, although the club's wage bill stands at £28m a month.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Chelsea
Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number14Player nameChalobah
Squad number4Player nameChristensen
Squad number2Player nameRüdiger
Squad number31Player nameSarr
Squad number7Player nameKanté
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Squad number19Player nameMount
Squad number22Player nameZiyech
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number11Player nameWerner
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number9Player nameLukaku
Squad number10Player namePulisic
Newcastle United
Squad number1Player nameDúbravka
Squad number19Player nameManquillo
Squad number6Player nameLascelles
Squad number5Player nameSchär
Squad number33Player nameBurn
Squad number13Player nameTargett
Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães
Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Squad number23Player nameMurphy
Squad number20Player nameWood
Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
Squad number21Player nameFraser
Squad number34Player nameGayle
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-3-3
- 16Mendy
- 14Chalobah
- 4Christensen
- 2RüdigerBooked at 90mins
- 31SarrSubstituted forPulisicat 78'minutes
- 7Kanté
- 5Jorginho
- 19MountSubstituted forKovacicat 63'minutesBooked at 87mins
- 22ZiyechBooked at 58mins
- 29HavertzBooked at 39mins
- 11WernerSubstituted forLukakuat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 3Alonso
- 6Thiago Silva
- 8Kovacic
- 9Lukaku
- 10Pulisic
- 12Loftus-Cheek
- 17Saúl
- 18Barkley
Newcastle
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Dúbravka
- 19ManquilloSubstituted forGayleat 90+1'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 6Lascelles
- 5Schär
- 33Burn
- 13Targett
- 24AlmirónSubstituted forSaint-Maximinat 69'minutes
- 39Guimarães Rodriguez MouraBooked at 80mins
- 36S Longstaff
- 23MurphyBooked at 50minsSubstituted forFraserat 90+1'minutes
- 20Wood
Substitutes
- 3Dummett
- 10Saint-Maximin
- 11Ritchie
- 17Krafth
- 21Fraser
- 26Darlow
- 29Gillespie
- 34Gayle
- 50De Bolle
Referee:David Coote
Attendance:40,026
Live Text
Match ends, Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0.
N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Matt Targett (Newcastle United).
Attempt saved. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by N'Golo Kanté.
Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jorginho (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United).
Substitution, Newcastle United. Ryan Fraser replaces Jacob Murphy.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Dwight Gayle replaces Javier Manquillo.
Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.
Goal! Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jorginho with a through ball.
Offside, Chelsea. Mateo Kovacic tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Targett with a cross.
Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea).
Matt Targett (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
English (US)