08/08/2015 16:30 v Chelsea

The Swans twice came from behind to earn a point against Chelsea in a rip-roaring contest at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the season.

After a positive start, Chelsea went ahead as Oscar’s free-kick found the bottom corner but summer signing Andre Ayew equalised five minutes later with a neat finish from close range following some dazzling skill.

But the hosts were back in front within a minute as Willian’s cross took a deflection off Federico Fernandez as it flew beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

That was how it stayed until ten minutes into the second half as the game turned on its head.

Bafe Gomis was brought down by Thibaut Courtois inside the box and with the goalkeeper being shown a straight red card, Gomis stepped up to slot home the penalty and bring the Swans level once more.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the remaining half an hour with a man advantage, with Eden Hazard coming closest for Chelsea when he drew a smart save from Fabianski.

Garry Monk handed a Premier League debut to summer signing Andre Ayew, with the Ghanaian starting on the wing.

In midfield, Ki Sung-Yueng was joined by Jonjo Shelvey and Gylfi Sigurdsson while Jefferson Montero was included on the flank to support Bafe Gomis, who led the line.

New signings Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Franck Tabanou and Eder were all included among the substitutes for the Swans.

The Swans started the brighter of the two sides on a humid evening in the capital, with Gomis glancing a header wide of the left-hand post following Shelvey’s corner from the left.

Gomis came even closer on 14 minutes as Shelvey played him in on goal with a fine pass but the Frenchman couldn’t get the ball out from under him and as the ball squirmed towards goal the Chelsea defence managed to clear.

Swansea’s fine start continued as Ki’s left-foot shot was beaten away by Courtois as the home side looked rattled.

However, the Blues gained their composure and after Nemanja Matic’s deflected effort was saved by Fabianski, the hosts broke the deadlock.

With the Swans temporarily down to ten men as Ayew received treatment off the pitch, Oscar’s curling free-kick from the left corner of the box found the bottom corner as the ball evaded everyone inside the box.

But five minutes later the Swans were level and it was one of their summer signings who found the net.

Montero’s run and cross from the left was met by Gomis and after his header was parried clear by Courtois, Ayew was on hand to coolly steer home the rebound.

But within a minute the home side were back in front as Willian’s attempted cross from the left edge of the box took a huge deflection off of Fernandez as the ball sailed over Fabianski and into the far corner of the net.

Monk's men responded well, however, with Sigurdsson stinging the palms of Courtois once more with a curling effort from just outside the penalty area.

But they suffered a blow just five minutes before the break as Ki limped off and a bursting run, with former Chelsea man Jack Cork replacing him in midfield.

The Swans started the second period on the front foot with Sigurdsson seeing a free-kick deflect over the bar, while Gomis saw a close-range effort blocked by the Chelsea defence.

Shelvey then saw an audacious corner come back off the post before the game turned on its head on 55 minutes.

Shelvey picked out Gomis with a lovely ball over the top of the Chelsea defence and as the Frenchman rounded Courtois, the goalkeeper was adjudged to have clipped the striker and referee Michael Oliver pointed straight to the penalty spot – and handed Courtois a straight red card.

That handed Asmir Begovic a first Premier League appearance for the Blues as he replaced Oscar – but the former Stoke goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Gomis drawing the Swans level as he sent his penalty into the bottom left-hand corner.

The man advantage was giving the visitors plenty of possession and Gomis was flagged a fraction offside as he tapped home Neil Taylor’s cross midway through the second half.

Wayne Routledge was then introduced in place of the impressive Montero, while Eden Hazard then tested Fabianski with a rasping shot that the Polish goalkeeper did well to keep out.

Summer signing Eder replaced Gomis in the Swans’ third and final change with 12 minutes remaining, while Radamel Falcao came on for Willian for Chelsea.

But the Blues couldn’t find a way through the stubborn Swansea defence and the visitors finished strongly to claim an impressive point.

 

CHELSEA: Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic, Cesc Fabregas (Kurt Zouma, 76), Oscar (Asmir Begovic, 54), Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, Willian (Radamel Falcao, 84), Gary Cahill, John Terry (capt), Cesar Azpilicueta.
SUBS: Ramires, John Obi Mikel, Loic Remy, Victor Moses.

SWANS: Lukasz Fabianski, Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Ashley Williams (capt), Neil Taylor, Ki Sung-Yueng (Jack Cork, 41), Jonjo Shelvey, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Ayew, Jefferson Montero (Wayne Routledge, 71), Bafe Gomis (Eder, 79).
SUBS: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Angel Rangel, Kyle Bartley, Franck Tabanou.