Chelsea ride on Alonso magic
Spanish defender breaks deadlock twice in either half as defending champions pick up their first victory
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur made a losing start to life as Wembley’s full-time tenants after Marcos Alonso’s double earned Premier League champions Chelsea a thrilling 2-1 victory on Sunday.
The Spaniard struck either side of a late Michy Batshuayi own goal to get Chelsea back to winning ways after their opening 3-2 loss at home to Burnley and end Spurs’ club-record run of 14 successive home wins.
Spurs went unbeaten throughout their final league campaign at White Hart Lane, but struggled at Wembley in the Champions League and have now lost eight of the last 10 matches they have played there.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men appeared to have avoided the worst when Batshuayi put through his own goal in the 82nd minute, only for Hugo Lloris’s feeble attempt at a save to gift Alonso the winner two minutes from time.
For Spurs, who are playing at We mb ley while White Hart Lane is rebuilt, it was a first home defeat in the league since a 2-1 loss to Southampton inMay2016.
Having endured a deeply trying start to the season, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will hope victory over the team his side pipped to the title last season will bring some much-needed positivity back to Stamford Bridge.
HUDDERS FIELD EDGE PAST NEWCASTLE 1-0
HUDDERSFIELD: Promoted Huddersfield Town made it two wins out of two in the Premier League as a superb Aaron Mooy strike in the second half gave them a 1-0 home win over Newcastle United on Sunday.
The hosts built on last week’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, which marked their return tothe top flight after a 45-year absence, when Australian Mooy grabbed the winner in the 50th minute.
Newcastle, who also won promotion from the Championship last season, should have equalised in the 68th minute but Ayoze Perez wasted a chance from close range.
GUARDIOLA WARY OF EVERTON THREAT
LONDON: The Premier League title credentials of Pep Guardiola’s new-look Manchester City face an early-season examination on Monday when Ronald Koeman’s ambitious Everton visit the Etihad Stadium.
With around £150 million ($193.1 million, 164.1 million euros) of new players on show, City made an assured start to the campaign by winning 2-0 at promoted Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend. “They are a top squad and they have important players,” said Guardiola. “They lost an important player, (Romelu) Lukaku, but they have a good group of players -- midfield players and strikers. They are one of the best teams in the Premier League.”