Chelsea 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.
2021/2022 Premier League
1-0
Match Report
Chelsea 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.
Match Events
0' Players are warming up before the game
0' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?
13' CHANCE! Schar's free-kick saved by Mendy
19' MISS! Murphy's shot wide out
25' Mendy makes timely save
27' CHANCE! Mount's long shot over the bar
34' MISS! Burn's header wide out
38' Yellow Card! Havertz booked
45' NICE TRY! Almiron's long shot stopped by Mendy
46' CLOSE! Guimaraes' shot inches wide
55' Unbelievable! What a miss from Werner
57' Yellow Card! Ziyech booked
57' Murphy goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
76' CHANCE! Havertz's header saved
86' Yellow Card! Kovacic booked
88' GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle (Havertz)
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Jorginho, Rudiger, Christensen, E. Mendy, Kante, Werner, Ziyech, T. Chalobah, Mount, Sarr, Havertz
Subs: Thiago Silva, Lukaku, Alonso, Saul , Barkley, Kovacic, Kepa, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic
Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Wood, Schar, Burn, Lascelles, Manquillo, Almiron, Targett, J.Murphy, Guimaraes, S. Longstaff
Subs: Ritchie, Darlow, M. Gillespie, Fraser, Krafth, Gayle, Dummett, Saint-Maximin, L. De Bolle