Chelsea managed to come away with a point from the Liberty Stadium after settling for a 2-2 draw against Swansea. Antonio Conte’s side dropped their first points of the season to lose out on their 100% win record.
A Diego Costa brace helped Chelsea fight their way back to secure a point against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. The Blues who were one of only two sides to possess a 100% record set out to Wales to try and continue their brilliant start to Antonio Conte’s era at the club. Franceso Guidolin’s side arrived at the back of 3-0 spanking at the hands of defending Premier League champions Leicester City prior to the international break and faced an uphill task if they were to improve their position in the table.
Chelsea team v Swansea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Kante; Willian, Oscar, Matic, Hazard; Diego Costa. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 11, 2016
⚽️?
Here’s how the #Swans will line up against @ChelseaFC this afternoon… pic.twitter.com/MymRiLuP4t
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) September 11, 2016
The Swans haven’t won since their opening day success at Burnley and the first half at the Liberty Stadium indicated that they’d have to wait a little longer to change that. Chelsea were comfortable and had full control over the proceedings before Diego Costa sent them ahead with a brilliant strike from outside the Swansea box. Having handed his side the lead, the Brazilian born Spanish international spurned a dolly from 2 yards out to invite the trolls on social media.
Fantastic finish from Costa after Swansea fail to clear their lines. This could be a long day for Swansea here…
— Copa90 (@Copa90) September 11, 2016
Diego Costa has scored 34 goals from 118 shots in the Premier League for Chelsea.
A conversion rate of 28.8%. pic.twitter.com/H6YsjYCbEk
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 11, 2016
That’s how you finish. Go for power in that situation and it goes over. Guide it into the corners. #Costa
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) September 11, 2016
That’s how you finish. Go for power in that situation and it goes over. Guide it into the corners. #Costa
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) September 11, 2016
HOW DID HE MISS?! Costa misses from a yard out. Genuinely. #SWACHE
— Copa90 (@Copa90) September 11, 2016
Shouldn’t really admit this considering some of his antics, but I do enjoy watching Costa. He’s bloody hilarious!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 11, 2016
Costa misses an open goal from 2 yards out pic.twitter.com/FB4M6rEf4a
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) September 11, 2016
Costa’s going to get the headlines one way or the other.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) September 11, 2016
One goal
One booking
Countless tusslesYou can’t keep Costa out of the game.
What next? https://t.co/6M5VKrS71l pic.twitter.com/44b7qtjj0a
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 11, 2016
However, the Swans started the second half with more vigour as they sought to find their way back into the fixture. Sigurdsson converted a penalty in the 59th minute that he won himself after being fouled by Thibaut Courtois. With that strike, the Icelandic midfielder became his club’s highest scorer in the Premier League.
GOAL Swansea 1-1 Chelsea (59 mins). Gylfi Sigurdsson picks himself up after being fouled by Thibaut Courtois and slots home #SWACHE
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 11, 2016
All gone a bit Euro 2016 here. Welsh teasing English visitors by doing the Iceland clap, chanting Sigurdsson’s name and waving Iceland flag
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) September 11, 2016
26 – Gylfi Sigurdsson has now scored more Premier League goals for Swansea than any other player (26). Ice.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 11, 2016
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty was his 26th @premierleague goal for the #Swans, making him our all-time @premierleague top scorer. ???
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) September 11, 2016
A milestone goal for @SwansOfficial – their top PL scorers: now read
26 Sigurdsson
25 Bony
20 Michu pic.twitter.com/0QXx2PzOXH— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) September 11, 2016
And within a matter of five minutes, the Swans went ahead through Leroy Fer. There was, however, controversy entailed in the build-up to the Dutchman’s goal where it appeared like he had fouled Gary Cahill enroute his run in at goal.
GOAL! The turnaround is complete! Leroy Fer benefits from Gary Cahill’s slip. Swansea lead 2-1! Two goals in three minutes. #SWACHE
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 11, 2016
I’m sorry but how has the ref not seen fer boot Cahill there????
— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) September 11, 2016
Life just isn’t Fer, eh Chelsea fans?
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) September 11, 2016
The Chelsea players claim strongly that Cahill was fouled when Fer won the ball. #CFCLive
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 11, 2016
Chelsea’s last 10 mins… #SWACHE pic.twitter.com/sTplS9ImBL
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) September 11, 2016
The only Costa getting love in Swansea today #SWACHE pic.twitter.com/Rp9xTCYbPw
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) September 11, 2016
Watching #SWACHE like… pic.twitter.com/CSyvYaXcGI
— William Hill Betting (@WillHillBet) September 11, 2016
Chelsea, however, equalized through Diego Costa who once again got on the score-sheet to potentially hand the Blues a crucial point. He scored off a terrific bicycle kick to give his side around 10 minutes to take a result back to Stamford Bridge. The 27-year-old proved to be a complete package on what was an entertaining evening at the Liberty stadium.
Diego Costa’s a beast, with the ball & without it.
I’d love a striker like him at Arsenal.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 11, 2016
No in-between with Diego Costa. He’s either brilliant or bonkers.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 11, 2016
That’s 3 of 4 league games in which Diego Costa should have been shown a red card (West Ham, Watford, Swansea) & has influenced the result.
— Dave Phillips (@lovefutebol) September 11, 2016
If Diego Costa was a goat #SWACHE https://t.co/UZa8cMcr5S pic.twitter.com/3a2ihvsdIf
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) September 11, 2016
Sure Costa kicked naughton in the head while scoring that goal. Should have been disallowed. Marriner having a shocker again!
— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) September 11, 2016
Both the Koscielny and Costa goals as good as they were should have been disallowed for high boot/dangerous play or has the law changed?
— Craig Burley (@CBurleyESPN) September 11, 2016
When someone tries to tell you Diego Costa’s second shouldn’t have counted https://t.co/AlRMhf2INL
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) September 11, 2016
Diego Costa is the type of guy that would unplug your life support machine in order to charge his phone. #SWACHE
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) September 11, 2016
Conte’s side next welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge in what will be their first major test of the season. Both sides will arrive high on confidence and will most certainly put on a fascinating encounter on Friday evening where a result for either of the sides will help them a fair bit at closing in on Manchester City at the top.
