segunda-feira, 12 de setembro de 2016

Swansea 2-2 Chelsea: Diego Costa salvages late point for wasteful Blues - 5 things we learned

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The Spaniard scored twice in south Wales to give Antonio Conte's men a share of the spoils - having earlier looked sure-fire winners at the Liberty Stadium


Diego Costa's 81st minute equaliser salvaged a point for wasteful Chelsea, as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Swansea.
Costa scored twice for Antonio Conte's men, but the Italian will have been frustrated as his side conceded two quick-fire second-half goals to the Welsh side.
The Spanish hitman has started the season in fine form, and wasted little time in nabbing his third league goal of the campaign.
Teed up wonderfully by Oscar - who had no right to be aware of his teammates positioning - the Spain striker fired past Lukasz Fabianski to hand the Blues the 16th minute advantage in south Wales.

JMP/REX/ShutterstockDiego Costa scores the first goal
Tucked away: Diego Costa scores the first goal...
ReutersDiego Costa celebrates scoring the first goal
...Cue the big man's celebration

Chelsea created a host of chances in the first period but couldn't put daylight between themselves and their hosts - and were made to pay 15 minutes into the second half, as the Swans turned things around.
A break out of defence from Modou Barrow saw him play a cross-field ball for Gylfi Sigurdsson, running through on goal; Thibault Courtois initially hesitated, before deciding to make a challenge bringing down the Icelandic midfielder - who himself made no mistake from the penalty spot.
And then Leroy Fer was given the benefit of the doubt by referee Andre Marriner when appearing to foul Gary Cahill, and put the Welsh side in front with his third goal of the season.

GettyLeroy Fer celebrates with team mates
Follow the leader: Swansea celebrate taking the lead
ReutersDiego Costa scores Chelsea's second goal
Get in: Diego Costa's acrobatics fire Chelsea back level

However, as the Swans sunk deeper and deeper, increasingly giving up ground and possession to the visitors, they eventually conceded an equaliser, nine minutes from time.
A clipped pass into the penalty area found Oscar's clever run and he fed Branislav Ivanovic in an inside right position; the Serbian easily got round Stephen Kingsley before his shot was deflected up into the air, where Costa fired home with an acrobatic effort.
Both sides went on to have chances to claim victory, but in the end neither could claim a winning goal.
Here are five things we learned at the Liberty Stadium...

1. Diego Costa is the centre of attention - again


ReutersDiego Costa celebrates scoring the first goal
Pleasure: Diego Costa celebrates his opener

Love him or hate him, Diego Costa is rarely boring.
The 27-year-old even spent his international break riling up the Spanish press before returning to London.
He was once again one of the main protagonists in this topsy-turvy encounter, netting a brilliant opener before having a late penalty appeal turned down.

ReutersDiego Costa
Pain: He had an interesting day

The Brazilian-born striker’s goal was a superb first-time finish and it had looked to put Chelsea into the driving seat.
Swansea came back, scoring twice, only for Costa to once again sniff the spotlight and find himself firmly in its glare once again with an acrobatic volley to equalise.
He should have won it on 84 minutes, but Eden Hazard waited too long to pass him the ball and his shot was blocked by Lukasz Fabianski.

2. The penny has finally dropped with Leroy Fer


GettyLeroy Fer celebrates after scoring
Cheers lads: Fer celebrates his goal for the Swans

Leroy Fer has always been a very capable footballer.
The Dutchman is a multi-talented midfielder, competent in a number of midfield roles. He’s a senior Dutch international, blessed with a clever footballing brain and good technique, having had a good grounding in his homeland at first Feyenoord and then Twente.
In 2013 he joined Norwich and failed to pull up any trees at Carrow Road - his most noteworthy incident coming against Cardiff when he was criticised for his lack of sportsmanship.
Norwich went down and Fer jumped ship, joining QPR for £8million. At Loftus Road he was again relegated, before joining Swansea on loan last January.

Action Images via ReutersLeroy Fer scores the second Swansea goal
Yep you've scored: Fer in the net after making it 2-1

He did enough in the second half of last term to earn a permanent deal in south Wales and he repaid Guidolin’s faith with three goals already this season. But it’s more than just his goals.
At the heart of midfield, he’s making smarter decisions, taking greater responsibility, cajoling those around him. His technical qualities have been the reason why he’s earned moves to three Premier League clubs. Now it’s his all-round showings which are going to play a key role in Swansea’s hopes of staying in the top flight.

3. Three or four at the back, it doesn’t matter for Swansea


ReutersFrancesco Guidolin and Antonio Conte
Changes: But Guidolin's Swans look weak

Francesco Guidolin switched to three at the back for Chelsea’s visit today but it didn’t take long for him to realise his mistake.
Diego Costa capitalised on their defensive confusion to open the scoring and Eden Hazard was causing havoc cutting in from the wing without a full-back to oppose him.
Guidolin switched to four at the back before half time - hooking Neil Taylor - which helped steady them; but they still looked weak. And that’s the problem they’re going to face this season, at least until January.
Ashley Williams wasn't a world-class centre-back but he made those around him look an awful lot better than they were. Now he’s gone, they’ve lost someone to organise the remaining rabble.
Swansea’s defence looks like the back line of a team that’s going down. They’ve got decent options higher up the pitch but it may not be enough to save them. Here, they were lucky some of Chelsea's finishing was so woeful.

4. Oscar’s renaissance


Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Impressed: Oscar has started the season well

Diego Costa and Eden Hazard are not the only Chelsea players to have been handed a new lease of life under Antonio Conte, with Brazilian midfielder Oscar again proving a decisive influence on affairs here.
Now 25, the ex-Internacional man has been with the Blues since 2012, and this was his 195th appearance for the club. In that time there have been some divine moments and some afternoons where he’s looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.
But under Conte, he appears refreshed, happy in himself and in his role. Rather than playing as a No.10, he’s been given more responsibility working both ways in a 4-1-4-1 formation and is thriving.
“In the last few seasons I have played as a No.10 or as a winger. Now I’m going back to my original position of No.8, attacking and defending from box to box, which is my original role and the one I like the most.”
This was an afternoon when Oscar’s showing was probably a seven out of 10, in terms of general quality with the ball. But the one moment when he did produce something special - finding Diego Costa unmarked when he had no right to be aware of his teammate - showed a player very much at ease with what he’s doing right now.

5. Not-so-triumphant return for David Luiz


ReutersDavid Luiz on the bench
Hi Dave: The Brazilian watches on from the bench

David Luiz said upon his return to Chelsea that he always knew he’d be back at the club.
But even if he really did envisage himself back with the Blues, he probably didn’t think his second coming would see him twiddling his thumbs on the bench.
Chelsea spent £34million re-signing the Brazilian they sold for £50million just two seasons ago, but even those sky-high transfer fees don’t guarantee you a starting spot under Antonio Conte.
Luiz faces a fight to get back into this side and will need to prove himself again at the club.
If Gary Cahill plays like this again, however, the fight may be a first round knockout.

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