LUKY STRIKE!
Romelu finally sparks up at Stamford Bridge after 10 long years...
ROMELU LUKAKU waited 10 years for his first goal at Stamford Bridge — then two came along at once.
The big Belgian, whose first debut for the club was a 3-1 win over Norwich in August 2011, had failed to register here in south-west London in his previous 14 appearances for the Blues, Everton and Manchester United.
But at the 15th time of asking, and back in a Chelsea jersey following his £97.5million move from Inter Milan in the summer, he broke his duck with two excellent – but very different – goals, one each side of an effort from Mateo Kovacic.
The victory continued Chelsea’s fine start to the season, making it three wins and a draw from four games, with only one goal conceded.
The fact they kept another clean sheet was thanks to Edouard Mendy, who had a stormer between the sticks, particularly in the first half when Aston Villa put him under serious pressure.
During that period towards the end of the first 45 minutes, Villa were a match for their hosts, and played some very good football.
But Chelsea were so clinical when their chances presented themselves and Dean Smith’s men just couldn’t take theirs.
Villa almost went behind early on but Ezri Konsa’s goalline clearance saved them as Callum Hudsonodoi’s corner threatened to sail straight in.
The defender stuck out a knee no more than a yard out and got enough on the ball to deflect it up on to the underside of the bar before it was hacked to safety. Soon, though, Chelsea were ahead and if the finish from Lukaku was impressive, the ball from Kovacic that freed him was different gravy.
The Croatian wrapped his boot around a lovely pass that took out three Villa defenders, and Lukaku did the rest, cutting back inside Axel Tuanzebe before stroking home his finish between Jed Steer’s legs.
The battle between Tuanzebe and Lukaku was a corker, especially in that first half, a full-blooded, throwback with no quarter given on either side.
If anything, Chelsea’s opener seemed to settle Smith’s men and, soon after, Mendy made the first of a string of good saves, getting down smartly to his right to deny Ollie Watkins at his near post. Watkins went
Chelsea were clinical when chances presented themselves... but Dean Smith’s Aston Villa just couldn’t take theirs...
past the Frenchman soon after but Thiago Silva blocked his shot well and Antonio Rudiger was on hand on the line just in case
Mendy then produced a fine double save to keep out Tyrone Mings and Konsa.
Villa were enjoying a good spell with Jacob Ramsey and John Mcginn pulling the strings in the middle of the park, and Chelsea new boy Saul Niguez was shown in no uncertain terms the difference in pace between La Liga and the Premier League.
The on-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder didn’t reappear for the second half, with Jorginho sent on as his replacement.
Ramsey’s effort from outside the box was gathered at the second attempt by Mendy before Rudiger’s comedy effort from the edge of the centre-circle in Villa’s half of the pitch put the seal on an entertaining first half. The shot would still be rising skywards now if there hadn’t been a stand behind Steer’s goal to stop it.
Villa, for whom Matt Cash was also in fine form, will have felt aggrieved not to have been back on level terms by the break, so well did they end the first period.
Yet two minutes after the restart they were further behind after a clanger from Mings.
Tuanzebe, under pressure from Lukaku, nudged the ball inside and the England defender took a heavy first touch, presenting the ball to Kovacic, who nicked in, advanced a few yards and clipped a neat finish past Steer.
After that, Villa failed to create the openings they had in the first half with Jorginho shoring things up for Chelsea.
And with seconds left, Lukaku put the tin hat on victory by thumping a delicious second past Steer into the top corner of the Villa goal.