Saturday, 13 September 2014

Diego Costa's continued his form with his first Chelsea hat-trick.

Diego Costa's sensational start to his Chelsea career continued as he scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Swansea City. The two sides came into the match having won all three of their Barclays Premier League matches this season, but it was Chelsea who maintained their perfect record as they came from behind to secure another three points.

Swansea looked the brighter in the early stages and the Welsh club took an unexpected lead courtesy of a John Terry own goal in the 11th minute at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea began to turn the tide and were level through the in-form Costa, who headed in a Cesc Fabregas corner before the interval.
The Spain forward popped up again in the 56th minute to cap a well-worked passing move, before rounding off his hat-trick 11 minutes later, his seventh goal in four matches, the first player to achieve this feat in the Barclays Premier League.
Debutant Loic Remy added a fourth in the 81st minute with a low strike beyond Lukasz Fabianski after coming on as a substitute.
Jonjo Shelvey grabbed Swansea's second goal but it was too little, too late as Jose Mourinho's side took their tally to 10 goals in their last two top-flight games to go three points clear at the top of the table
Wilfried Bony was dropped to the bench after returning late from international duty with Ivory Coast, while Costa led the Chelsea line having missed out on Spain's Euro 2016 qualifying opener against Macedonia with a hamstring injury.
It was Costa, who was named Barclays Premier League player of the month on Friday, who got the first sight of goal, but his deflected effort from just outside the penalty area was comfortably collected by Swansea goalkeeper Fabianski.
Garry Monk's men took a shock lead in the 11th minute when Terry diverted the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear a Neil Taylor cross from the left.
The advantage was almost doubled soon after as Bafetimbi Gomis, who replaced Bony, powered forward before firing wide of the right-hand post.
Terry headed over from a free-kick at the right end as he looked to atone for his error.
Swansea had to withstand considerable pressure towards the end of the half and Costa found a way past Fabianski just before the interval, by heading home from a Fabregas corner.
Federico Fernandez replaced Jordi Amat at half-time to make his Barclays Premier League debut, and had to be alert from the off as Chelsea continued to look dangerous. But the Swansea defence was breached again in the 56th minute when Eden Hazard and Fabregas exchanged passes brilliantly before the latter set up Costa for a simple side-footed finish.
Costa completed his hat-trick 23 minutes from time by losing his marker to get on the end of a Ramires through-ball and sneak an effort past Fabianski, before Remy made it four nine minutes from time with a clinical finish into the bottom corner of the net.
Shelvey slid the ball beyond goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after being sent through on goal by Bony in the closing stages, but it proved to be a mere consolation for the visitors.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho: "Diego Costa is one of the best strikers we have at this moment in football. The team is an attacking team that creates a lot, creates spaces for a striker. The second goal is a brilliant collective action and Cesc Fabregas had a fantastic assist.
"We were too comfortable in the first half, not creating super dangerous situations. In the second half we started pressing them very well, did not give them time to play, started creating and playing more attacking football. It could have been five or six."
Swansea manager Garry Monk: "It was a very good first half hour. Some of the football was the best we've played this season. I think it just showed the world-class quality took its toll a bit in the second half.
"Their power and strength was too much. When you play the top teams you gauge where you are at and what you need to work on. But in terms of effort and commitment we were very good."

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