REECE LIGHTNING
James wonder goal saves Blues seconds after Seagulls equaliser
FRANK LAMPARD banked the first dividend from his £200million Chelsea makeover – thanks to a kid who cost nothing.
As the Blues reached 2,000 Premier League points, boss Lampard unleashed new £120million strike-force Timo
Werner and Kai Havertz at Brighton. German star Werner drew the foul from which Jorginho fired them ahead from the penalty spot.
But it was academy graduate Reece James, 20, who restored Chelsea’s lead with a thunderbolt after Leandro Trossard levelled for Albion, before Kurt Zouma got Blues’ third.
TIMO WERNER unleashed the turbo jets and gave Chelsea a glimpse of the future.
Werner’s blistering pace, acceleration and power exposed Brighton’s defence and showed the Blues will be one of the great entertainers in the Premier League this season.
A wonder goal for Reece James, a glimpse of exciting new signings and familiar defensive frailties, plus their dodgy keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with another howler.
Strap yourselves in, Chelsea fans, because this is going to be
a white-knuckle ride, where it might just be trying to go all out to score one more than the opposition.
Brighton were excellent, did not deserve to lose and, heartbreakingly, saw newsigning Adam Lallana limp off injured after only 44 minutes.
Lallana had such bad luck with injuries at Liverpool that he must have been hoping for a fresh start, and yet it ended in such disappointing fashion, as he looked close to tears when he hobbled off.
But you have to give credit to the Seagulls because this was a serious test for Chelsea, as young right-back Tariq Lamptey was outstanding again, Ben White excellent at centre-half, and they will definitely be better this season.
So for Chelsea to leave the Amex with all three points will be a huge boost for Frank Lampard (right), as he knows the pressure will be well and truly on after his £200million summer spending spree.
Werner and Kai Havertz were the only Blues’ new boys to start because of injuries and fitness issues, but they looked good and will make a big difference this term.
Havertz was £70m and less direct and dynamic than Werner, but there were nice touches of class from a player rated in Germany as one of their very best prospects. Werner is already well established and you could see why after just 21 minutes. Brighton midfielder Steve Alzate’s clumsy square pass fell to Jorginho whose slick, first-time ball sent Werner away.
The Germany striker sprinted clear, rounded Brighton keeper Mat
Ryan, only to be pulled back for an obvious penalty. Up stepped Jorginho to send Ryan the wrong way and Chelsea were ahead.
Lamptey was lively down the right for the hosts, Werner went close for
Chelsea, and then Lallana hobbled off. It was not going the home side’s way.
But Brighton levelled after 54 minutes. Chelsea were pressed backwards, and Lamptey’s assist set up Leandro Trossard, who unleashed a diagonal 20-yard shot.
The ball squirmed under Arrizabalaga’s despairing dive and the £71m Chelsea keeper should have done better.
But, incredibly, the Blues took 100 seconds to draw level, and just when you had begun to pick away at their failings, as Ruben Loftuscheek was poor, Mason
Mount disappointing and James struggling defensively.
James had the perfect answer as he bolted forward and, from 25 yards out, smashed his first Premier League goal to put the visitors back in front again.
Lewis Dunk could have made it 2-2 from a Trossard cross as Chelsea’s defence went AWOL again.
But the Blues soon added a third. James took a right-wing corner, Kurt Zouma smashed a shot towards goal, which took a wicked deflection off Adam Webster, and wrong-footed keeper Ryan to complete Chelsea’s first win of the season.