Alonso double for Chelsea spoils Spurs’ Wembley opener

Two goals from Marcos Alonso gave Chelsea a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the first-ever Premier League game at Wembley Stadium.

For all the noise and wall of flags that greeted their arrival, Spurs needed an early goal to feel at ease in their new surroundings.

It was Chelsea, though, that made the breakthrough against the run of play on 23 minutes when Alonso thumped home a superb free kick from 20 meters after Dele Alli had fouled David Luiz.

The shock jolted Spurs, who spent much of the game peppering Chelsea’s goal, with Harry Kane hitting the post and Christian Eriksen also going close.

They eventually got a goal on 82 minutes but only when Michy Batshuayi headed an Eriksen free kick into his own goal two minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The striker looked disconsolate, but the goal heralded a frantic finale in which Tottenham had a penalty appeal turned down and Chelsea scored on the counter-attack after 88 minutes when Luiz intercepted and Pedro fed Alonso on the overlap.

The fullback shot low but must have been as surprised as anyone when goalkeeper Hugo Lloris somehow let the ball through.

“We played a very good game,” said Alonso. “I don’t think I ever hit a better free kick than the first, not even in training.”

Midfielder Luiz was at the heart of most that was good about Chelsea, breaking down Tottenham attacks and pushing his team forward. Asked what instructions he had received from manager Antonio Conte, Luiz said: “Run.”

He added: “He told me to cut out the space to create. We were clever and played a very good game.”

It was Chelsea’s fourth successive win over Spurs at the national stadium – the previous three were in cup games – and hardly bodes well for Tottenham’s temporary home while its new stadium is being built. In their past 11 games at Wembley, Spurs have won only twice.

“I think I must be pleased,” said Conte. “I want to thank my players CHELSEA DEFENDER Marcos Alonso celebrates after scoring the second of his two goals in the Blues’ 2-1 victory over Totttenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium in Premier League action yesterday in London. because they showed me great desire and heart and I saw today the fighters.”

The Italian was particularly pleased because the champion was without the suspended Cesc Fabregas and Gary Cahill, giving Tiemoue Bakayoko his debut and trusting Andreas Christensen at the heart of the defense.

But it was a couple of old hands in Luiz and Alonso who stood out.

“David played very well, it was an amazing performance from him,” said Conte.

“He played with great experience and personality, a point of reference for other players. But it is easy to forget we had four new players from last season and we played like we wanted to show we were champions.”

Conte again said the club was working towards strengthening the squad in the transfer window, with at least three arrivals expected.

“For us it is very important to be focused on ourself. We know a lot of teams have improved since last season,” he said.

“The club is trying to do its best in the transfer market, but today I must be satisfied with my players because they gave me everything.”

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino refused to blame the club’s Wembley hoodoo for his club’s defeat.

Pochettino said he was “only disappointed and not frustrated or upset by the defeat” in a game which Spurs dominated.

“The Wembley effect is not the reason we lost the game,” he said.

“It is not fair to blame a stadium that is one of the best places to play football in the world.”

Pochettino batted away suggestions that his players were affected by the size of the pitch, which is eight percent bigger than their old home which is being replaced by a new, 61,000-seater stadium due to open for the 2018-2019 season.

“If you love football you know that Wembley is not the problem. We didn’t lose because of the pitch but because they were more clinical in front of goal than us,” Pochettino said.

“What is more important was the performance which I am happy with.”

On another day, Harry Kane would have buried any number of the chances he spurned on Sunday and Christian Eriksen also went close. But, for all their effort and possession, Spurs could not break down a battling Chelsea side.

“Chelsea set out to contain us and I am happy to lose in that way,” Pochettino said.

Meanwhile, promoted Huddersfield Town made it two wins out of two in the Premier League as a superb Aaron Mooy strike gave it a 1-0 home win over Newcastle United on Sunday.

The host side built on last week’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, which marked its return to the top flight after a 45-year absence, when Australian Mooy grabbed the winner in the 50th minute.

Newcastle, which also won promotion from the Championship last season, should have equalized in the 68th minute but Ayoze Perez wasted a chance from close range.

Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle remains without a point following a home loss to Tottenham last week. (Reuters)