Match ends, Chelsea 2, Leicester City 0.
ChelseaChelsea2LeicesterLeicester City0
- Summer signing Diego Costa scores on his home debut
- Eden Hazard scores after Cesc Fabregas assist
- Chelsea remain top of table after second win
Diego Costa was again on target for his new club as Chelsea eventually overcame a stubborn Leicester to maintain their 100% start to the Premier League.
The first half belonged to Championship winners Leicester, who caused the Chelsea defence some anxious moments.
In the second half David Nugent wasted a great chance when clear on goal.
But Chelsea attacked with more purpose after the break, with Costa scoring from close range and Eden Hazard drilling low beyond Kasper Schmeichel.
Leicester were the latest Premier League newcomers to fail in their attempts to thwart Chelsea, even though the hosts were a less vibrant and fearsome outfit than the one which impressed in victory over Burnley on Monday.
After a subdued performance in the first half, there were fears that the Londoners were reverting to the habits which proved costly in their pursuit of the title last season - slipping up against teams regarded as lesser opponents.
But the Blues did not have a striker as clinical as Spain international Costa, 25, during their last campaign, and the £32m summer signing's second league goal of the season was the nerve-easer that Chelsea desperately needed after only excellent goalkeeping from Thibaut Courtois had kept the score goalless.
Courtois was again preferred to Petr Cech, forcing the 32-year-old to readjust to the unfamiliar role of substitute after nearly 500 appearances as Chelsea's first-choice goalkeeper. From the bench, the demoted Cech could have watched his 22-year-old replacement make two fine saves, one in either half.
First the Belgium international prevented the light-footed Riyad Mahrez from scoring and, after the break, quickly came off his line to thwart Nugent, the former England striker who claims he has "unfinished business" in the Premier League.
| Match facts | |
|---|---|
| Chelsea have failed to score a first-half goal in three of their last four Premier League games | Costa has scored two goals from two shots on target in the league this season |
| Cesc Fabregas now has 73 Premier League assists, which is as many as former Manchester United striker Andy Cole | Fabregas has now assisted three goals in two Premier League appearances for Chelsea. |
The 29-year-old - a £6m purchase for Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth back in 2007 - has not scored in the Premier League since March 2010 and his wait must continue because of Courtois's reflexes.
The Foxes had the best away record in the Championship last season and twice came from behind at home to draw against Everton on the opening day, but ultimately lacked the guile needed to beat a Chelsea back four which was the most frugal in the league last season.
After their sluggish first period the Blues added urgency to their play in the second half and it needed an acrobatic save from Schmeichel to stop a Branislav Ivanovic header from reaching the top corner.
Following wave after wave of Chelsea attack - Oscar hitting the base of the post with a curling effort - a goal for the hosts seemed inevitable.
Again, Ivanovic was at the heart of it, charging down the right before his ricocheted cross found his striker inside the box. Costa controlled the ball with his chest and swept home from 10 yards.
Chelsea's second was preventable as Schmeichel allowed Belgium attacker Hazard's low effort from the left to slip underneath him.
Roman Abramovich could not contain his delight on the 11th anniversary of his first home game as Chelsea owner, which was against the same opponents.
The beaming Russian took part in a standing ovation when Costa made way for Didier Drogba, the 36-year-old striker making his first appearance at Stamford Bridge since rejoining the club in the summer as the match ended joyously for the Blues.
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson: "We're disappointed. Key moments didn't quite go our way. I thought we played exceptionally well in the first half but it's about taking your chances when you get them.
"There are more positives than there are negatives. We're not talking about us coming to places like this and being happy to lose the game, but I think the players showed what they're capable of. What we need to do is sustain it for the entirety of the game."
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Courtois
- 2Ivanovic
- 24Cahill
- 26Terry
- 28Azpilicueta
- 21Matic
- 4FÃ bregas
- 14SchürrleSubstituted forSantos do Nascimentoat 64'minutes
- 8OscarSubstituted forWillianat 70'minutes
- 10E Hazard
- 19Diego CostaSubstituted forDrogbaat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Cech
- 3Filipe LuÃs
- 5Zouma
- 7Santos do Nascimento
- 11Drogba
- 12Mikel
- 22Willian
Leicester
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Schmeichel
- 2de Laet
- 5Morgan
- 18Moore
- 3Konchesky
- 26MahrezSubstituted forAlbrightonat 68'minutes
- 10King
- 7HammondBooked at 51minsSubstituted forTaylor-Fletcherat 73'minutes
- 15Schlupp
- 35Nugent
- 23UlloaSubstituted forWoodat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Albrighton
- 12Hamer
- 20Hopper
- 22Taylor-Fletcher
- 24Knockaert
- 27Wasilewski
- 39Wood
- Referee:
- Lee Mason
- Attendance:
- 41,604
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamLeicester
- Possession
- Home63%
- Away37%
- Shots
- Home27
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away4
- Corners
- Home8
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Leicester City 0.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match Willian (Chelsea) because of an injury.
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Foul by Didier Drogba (Chelsea).
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Liam Moore (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Eden Hazard (Chelsea).
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Ritchie de Laet (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Gary Cahill (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Willian with a cross.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Kasper Schmeichel.
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Attempt saved. Willian (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Cesc FÃ bregas.
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Attempt blocked. Ramires (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cesc FÃ bregas.
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Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by John Terry.
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Foul by Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea).
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Jeffrey Schlupp (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Cesc FÃ bregas following a set piece situation.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Chris Wood replaces Leonardo Ulloa.
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Cesc FÃ bregas (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Leicester City).
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Attempt saved. Marc Albrighton (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jeffrey Schlupp.
