Chelsea 2-2 Swansea: Five Talking Points

Defending Premier League champions Chelsea faced Swansea in their opening fixture at Stamford Bridge and the result was not one that will please Jose Mourinho. Yet again, Diego Costa passed a last-minute medical to be fit to lead the line, but he was unable to make much of an impact over the 90 minutes. Swansea started new addition Andre Ayew on the right flank, whereas Jose Mourinho stuck to the same eleven that started all of last season. It was a great game, with plenty of ebbs and flows. But in the end, 10-man Chelsea only just managed to hold on for a 2-2 draw. Here are the major talking points from the game.

#1 Chelsea\'s creativity returns

Oscar scored the opening goal for the Blues with a free kick

Chelsea had a torrid pre-season. The defending champions failed to win a single match in normal time and even failed to score in the last two games. With the mercurial Costa leading the line, and Cesc Fabregas back to pulling strings from a deeper position, Chelsea seemed to regain some of their attacking flair. Costa also seemed to have fully recovered from his hamstring injury and was making runs into the box with ease.

The Blues started brightly, with quick one-twos, tricks, flicks and back heels and Mourinho’s men looked in control in the early stages of the first half. Oscar seemed fresh and well rested after not playing in the Copa America, while Eden Hazard and Willian seemed much sharper than in pre-season.

Oscar opened the scoring through a free-kick fired in between the defensive line and goalkeeper, which missed everyone and ended up in the back of the net. Chelsea’s second goal came through an unfortunate deflection, when Fernandez failed to close in on Willian and his cross came off the Swansea defender, only to loop over Lukasz Fabianski and into the side netting.

#2 Swansea\'s direct attacking play

Swansea celebrate Andre Ayew’s goal against Chelsea

Swansea always play fluid attacking football. But to go to the home of the defending champions on the first day of the season and do that deserves appreciation. Cutting in and out of the left flank, the Ecuadorian Jefferson Montero made the usually swashbuckling Branislav Ivanovic look completely out of place.

Time and again, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jonjo Shelvey slid in passes beyond the Chelsea backline to Bafétimbi Gomis, who should have opened the scoring in the first half when John Terry was caught ball watching.

Both Ki Sung-Yueng and his replacement, former Chelsea youth captain, Jack Cork were solid in midfield. Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew also seems like a great signing. He showed great composure to finish off the rebound from a Gomis header to draw Swansea level.

#3 Double Whammy: Penalty and red card

Thibaut Courtois fouled Gomis on the edge of the box and was awarded a penalty

The Swans had a great start to the second half, earning a few corners and hitting the post. Shelvey played a great ball over the Chelsea backline, who thought they were playing Gomis offside, only to find the zealously backtracking Willian playing him on.

Thibaut Courtois came rushing out to the edge of the penalty area, but only managed to trip Gomis with Cahill trying to get back to cover the goal. To the dismay of the Blues fans, the referee awarded a penalty to Swansea and a also produced a red card for the Belgian goalkeeper.

There were two questions about regarding the decision. Firstly, if the challenge was inside the box, and secondly, whether it was a red card. The tackle was made right on the edge of the penalty box, and according to the rules on the FA website:

“Lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries”. Implying that referee Michael Oliver was spot on in awarding the penalty.

Regarding the sending-off, one can argue that Gomis’s touch was taking him away from goal, and Cahill had come back to cover. The rule clearly states that a red card can be awarded for “denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal”.

But Courtois got his marching orders and Asmir Begovic made his Chelsea debut having to save a penalty and failing to do so as Gomis leveled the score.

#4 Mourinho parks the bus

Jose Mourinho settled for a point after his side were reduced to 10 men and looked in danger of conceding a goal

The Welsh side were a constant threat to Chelsea’s goal once the Blues were down to ten men. With Oscar making way for Begovic, their attacking prowess had already been compromised.

After watching a Gomis goal disallowed for being marginally offside, Mourinho had seen enough. Kurt Zouma came on for Cesc Fabregas, and this coupled with the injury to Montero helped nullify the Swans’ attack. But it also meant that Chelsea’s only chance of scoring was lobbing in balls into the box from free kicks.

Swansea, who were thumped 5-0 the last time these two sides met, had to settle for a draw in the end as the Blues managed to thwart attack after attack and eventually come away with a point when it looked like the Swans could take all three.

#5 Chelsea\'s defensive woes

Swansea’s Montero gave Ivanovic a tough time on the flank

Anyone who believed that Chelsea were the outright favourites to defend their EPL crown should be second-guessing themselves now, or at least preparing to. Captain John Terry was not only found lacking pace but was actually caught ball watching on more than one occasion.

The big and powerful Ivanovic was made to look slow and sloppy on the flank by the speedy Montero. The Chelsea defence was found wanting against pace, a few times last season and they have not addressed that weakness.

Although Courtois has received only a one game suspension, he will be unavailable for the crucial game – away to Manchester City at the Etihad.

Things did not go Chelsea’s way, but this maybe just what Mourinho needs to get the team going and get them into a siege mentality in the quest to top the table once again.