Maurizio Sarri kicked off his Chelsea managerial career and the 18/19 Premier League season with a dominant 3-0 win against Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Leicester City beaten by Manchester United in season opener
Manchester United kicked off the 2018/19 English Premier League season with a 2-1 win over Leicester City …
Sarri made the bold decision of starting his first official game with Eden Hazard on the bench. Chelsea kicked off the match, and despite having majority of the possession early in the first half, neither side had any threatening chances at goal.
Chelsea played a high line that Sarri is renowned for, Huddersfield tried to take advantage playing a couple of over the top long balls but the Blues defense held strong.
The breakthrough finally came for Chelsea in the 34th minute when Willian used his blistering pace to break through The Terriers defense and play in a cross to N’Golo Kante, who found the top left corner.
Huddersfield very nearly equalized soon after when a corner into the box was headed on by Steve Mounie struck the left post, with Kepa Arrizabalaga rooted to his spot.
At the death of the first half Christopher Schindler took down Marcos Alonso inside the box and referee Chris Kavanagh gave a penalty. New signing Jorginho stepped up and with a brilliant cheeky right footed shot found the right corner.
Half Time: Huddersfield Town 0 – 2 Chelsea FC
The first major chance of the second half came to Chelsea, where Antonio Rudiger headed to the bottom corner, but it was pushed out for another corner by keeper Ben Hamer.
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The second corner produced a stunning effort by Alonso who struck the ball with an improvised bicycle kick and had the opposition beaten, but saw the crossbar deny the glorious goal.
Chelsea finally brought Hazard on in the 76th minute and had an immediate impact as he dribbled past the defense and laid a through ball to Pedro who with a great finish beat the keeper to make it 3-0.
Full Time: Huddersfield Town 0 – 3 Chelsea FC
Goal Scorers
Chelsea FC – N’golo Kante 34’, Jorginho 45’ (P), Pedro 80’Bookings
Yellow Cards
Huddersfield Town – Christopher Schindler 44’, Terence Kongolo83’
Chelsea FC – David Luiz 69’
In other matches
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur
Goals from Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli handed Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United.
Spurs took the lead on eight minutes when Vertonghen headed in, with the Goal Decision System showing the ball crossed the line by just nine millimeters.
Joselu drew Newcastle level just two minutes and 36 seconds later when he headed in Matt Ritchie’s cross. Yet Spurs restored their lead on 18 minutes when Serge Aurier picked out Alli to nod in at the back post.
Mohamed Diame and substitute Salomon Rondon struck the woodwork in the second half as Newcastle sought an equalizer in vain.
Bournemouth v Cardiff City
AFC Bournemouth claimed their first opening-weekend win in the Premier League, beating Cardiff City 2-0 at Vitality Stadium.
Ryan Fraser opened the scoring for the Cherries on 24 minutes, converting Callum Wilson’s cross. AFC Bournemouth could have doubled their lead on 34 minutes but Wilson’s penalty was kept out by Neil Etheridge.
Cardiff had chances to get back on level terms through Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and new signing Bobby Reid, but could not find a way past Asmir Begovic. Wilson sealed the victory in stoppage time, finishing Simon Francis’s cross.
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace opened 2018/19 with a win as goals from Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha beat Fulham 2-0.
Fulham had the better start, with Aleksandar Mitrovic twice seeing shots saved by Wayne Hennessey. Schlupp scored his first Premier League goal for Palace on 41 minutes, latching on to a Patrick van Aanholt pass to fire into the roof of the net.
Zaha had an attempt saved midway through the second half but doubled Palace’s advantage with 11 minutes remaining as he rounded Fulham goalkeeper Fabri and tapped home.
Watford v Brighton and Hove Albion
Roberto Pereyra scored both goals as Watford began the season with a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Vicarage Road.
Captain Troy Deeney came close to breaking the deadlock on 17 minutes but could not beat Matt Ryan from seven yards out. Pereyra gave the Hornets the lead on 35 minutes, volleying a Jose Holebas corner into the top left corner from 15 yards.
He scored his second nine minutes after the restart, cutting in from the left and finding the bottom right corner from the edge of the penalty area. Yves Bissouma had Brighton’s best chance with 20 minutes remaining but could not quite find the left-hand corner.
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