Defending champions, Chelsea hosted Burnley in their opening English Premier League match on the 12th of August 2017, Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea and Burnley were part of a controversially heated match that saw mistimed challenges and player disputes.
Cahill’s Costly Lunge
Captain, Gary Cahill mistimed his challenge and made a studs up tackle on Defour, he was handed a straight red inside 14 minutes.
Advantage Burnley
Burnley had their tails up and scored 10 minutes later through Sam Vokes who managed to get his boot on a cross, scoring in the bottom corner. Ward scored in the 39th for Burnley making it 2 – 0 with an acute angle shot on the left side of the goal posts. It seemed to be all over for Chelsea as Sam Vokes scored his brace through a free header. 3 -0 on the brink of half time.
Morata on Debut
After the break, Conte brought on new signing Morata, who scored with his reliable head on debut in the 69th. The intensity of the match continued as tempers flared from the Chelsea camp. Fabregas landed himself a second yellow for a late challenge, much to the dismay of the fans, as Chelsea were reduced to 9 men with 30 minutes to play.
Chelsea Fight Back
In the 80th minute, the match reached a climax as David Luiz latched onto a Morata flick on in the 88th minute to score. 3 – 2 and in the last gasps of the match Burnley held on for a memorable win.
Final Score: Burnley 3 – 2 Chelsea
Man of the Match: Sam Vokes
Goal Scorers
|
Chelsea
|
Min
|
Burnley
|
|
24
|
Vokes
|
|
39
|
Ward
|
|
43
|
Vokes
|
Morata
|
69
|
|
Luiz
|
88
|
|
Red Cards
|
Gary Cahill
|
Cesc Fabregas
|
Chelsea
|
Stats
|
Burnley
|
62%
|
Ball Possession
|
38%
|
19
|
Goal Attempts
|
10
|
6
|
Shots on Goal
|
5
|
6
|
Shots off Goal
|
4
|
7
|
Blocked Shots
|
1
|
12
|
Free Kicks
|
18
|
8
|
Corners
|
5
|
2
|
Offsides
|
1
|
2
|
Goalie Saves
|
4
|
16
|
Fouls
|
12
|
2
|
Red Cards
|
0
|
5
|
Yellow Cards
|
3
|
523
|
Total passes
|
314
|
11
|
Tackles
|
11
|
Chelsea
|
Starting Line Up
|
Burnley
|
Alonso
|
|
Brady
|
Azpilicueta
|
|
Cork
|
Batshuayi
|
|
Defour
|
Boga
|
|
Gudmundsson
|
Cahill
|
|
Heaton
|
Courtois
|
|
Hendrick
|
Fabergas
|
|
Lowton
|
Kante
|
|
Mee
|
Luiz
|
|
Tarkowski
|
Rudiger
|
|
Vokes
|
Willian
|
|
Ward
|
|
Subs
|
|
Caaballero
|
|
Arfield
|
Christensen
|
|
Barnes
|
Kenedy
|
|
Long
|
Morata
|
|
Pope
|
Musonda
|
|
Taylor
|
Scott
|
|
Walters
|
Tomori
|
|
Westwood
|