Ratings: Eden Hazard shines on Chelsea return as unlucky Yedlin hands Sarri perfect start

Newcastle were punished in the last minutes to hand Chelsea maximum points at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon.

Chelsea totally dominated the game, finishing with 83% possession, but they failed to do anything critical with it right until the end of the match.

Newcastle defended in numbers smothering and snuffing out all of the Blues’ advances. It took until the last thirteen minutes for this afternoon’s clash to get going. Three goals in 11 minutes were scored after that, beginning with Hazard’s penalty in his first start of the season.

DeAndre Yedlin managed to equalise moments later, but he inadvertently sliced the ball into his own goal at the death to provide Chelsea with a perfect start to their 2018/19 season.

Here at the match ratings from today’s game

Newcastle

Martin Dubravka – 6 – The Slovakian was solid for much of the game, collected and distributed the ball well. He dived the right way for Hazard’s penalty, but he will be disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet.

DeAndre Yedlin – 7 –Yedlin’s workrate was fantastic in the right-wing-back position. Delivered a fantastic cross to set up Newcastle’s equaliser late on. Got his bearings completely wrong at the end of the game when he scored an own goal from Alonso’s shot.

Federico Fernanadez – 6 – The Argentine was solid on his debut and made several key interventions. Nasty challenge on Kovacic earned him a booking.

Fabian Schar – 6 – Another debutant who made a good impression in the Magpies’ back three. Was caught out on occasion, luckily for him his teammates were never too far behind to stifle Chelsea’s advances in the first half. Was unfortunate to give away a questionable penalty. Booked.

Ciaran Clark – 6 – Played solidly at the back all game, but made a few aimless passes.

Paul Dummett – 5 – The left-back occasionally lost track of Azipilicueta and Pedro during Chelsea’s advances down the left flank. Made a few aimless Hollywood passes too.

Jacob Murphy – 6 – Could have provided Dummet with a clear chance after six minutes, but worked hard to harass Chelsea’s centre-backs.

Ki Sung-yueng – 6 – Looked sharp, save for a couple of mistakes on of which almost gifted Pedro a goal in the first half.

Mohamed Diame – 7 – Was sharp all afternoon and maintained excellent discipline as his side parked the bus this afternoon.

Matt Ritchie – 7 – Worked hard in midfield to maintain his side’s shape and smothered many of Chelsea’s advances. After such an enormous effort he will be crushed that his side failed to get something from the game.

Salomon Rondon – 6 – Missed a free header. Isolated up front, but held the ball up well to play in his team mates.

Substitutes:

Joselu (for Rondon 61)  – 7 – Scored an equaliser with a sensational header at the near post. 

Ayoze Perez (for Murphy 73) – NA –Late sub, made no impact.

Yoshinori Muto  (for Schar 78) – NA – Late sub, made no impact.

Chelsea

Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6 – Made a reckless pass in the first half that could’ve ended in disaster. Could have done better against Joselu’s header.

Cesar Azipilicueta – 7 – The Spaniard was solid defensively and got into some dangerous areas and had a half volley blocked in the first half.

David Luiz – 6 – A solid display in the first half and was excellent in possession. The Brazilian could have done better to pick up Joselu for Newcastle’s equaliser.

Antonio Rudiger – 7 – A tidy display in central defence and kept the ball well. Unlucky not to score when his 25-yard effort smashed against Newcastle’s crossbar.

Marcos Alonso – 7 – Stuggled to contain Yedlin’s advances this afternoon and was shaky when defending set-pieces. But played well going forward, created his side’s winner and linked up well with the trio in midfield.

Jorginho – 7 – As always an elegant display by the Brazilian, Newcastle’s players never got near him as he fizzed the ball around the final third. However, his final ball lacked invention.

Kovacic – 7 – Worked well on the left side of Sarri’s midfield trident, making several overlapping runs in tandem with Hazard. Booked.

N’Golo Kante – 6 – Kante distributed the ball well, but didn’t look sharp enough at times and was dispossessed on several occasions.  Improved in the second half.

Pedro – 5 – missed a clear chance in the first half and didn’t provide the creativity needed to open up the Magpies.

Eden Hazard – 8 – The Belgian had a painful start at St James’ Park, taking a knock on his ankle and a rake down the shin in the early stages. When not being hacked he was seemingly ubiquitous in the final third, adroitly weaving his way in and out between Newcastle’s defenders. Converted an excellent penalty.

Alvaro Morata – 5 – Quiet first half. A heavy touch prevented him from latching on to a well worked chance.

Subsitutes:

Olivier Giroud (for Morata 65) – 5 – Didn’t manage to improve on Morata’s quiet performance.

Willian (for Pedro 68) – 5 – Made some decent runs on the flanks, but didn’t really threaten to change the game.

Ross Barkley ( for Kovacic 79) – NA – Late sub.

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