Alonso brace helps Chelsea beat Spurs
For all the noise and wall of flags that greeted their arrival, Spurs needed an early goal to feel at ease in their surroundings
LONDON: 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, who are playing at Wembley while their new stadium is constructed, needed an early goal to feel at ease in their surroundings.
It was Chelsea, however, who made the breakthrough against the run of play on 23 minutes when Alonso thumped home a superb free-kick from 20 metres 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 scored when Michy Batshuayi put through his own net from Eriksen’s free-kick two minutes after coming on but, as Spurs pushed for the winner, Alonso hit back on 88 minutes with a shot that went straight through keeper Hugo Lloris.
Huddersfield win
Earlier, promoted Huddersfield Town made it two wins out of two in the Premier League as a superb Aaron Mooy strike gave them a 1-0 home win over Newcastle United.
The hosts built on last week’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, which marked their return to the 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.
Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle remain without a point following their home loss to Tottenham Hotspur last week.
There was a buzz of anticipation around the John Smith’s Stadium as Huddersfield, three times champions in the 1920’s, prepared to welcome England’s elite once more.
German manager David Wagner, whose team won promotion through the playoffs, has energised the Yorkshire town, injecting optimism and excitement into a club that had been struggling in the second tier Championship when he took over in November, 2015.
Signs of ‘We are Premier League’ were proudly displayed outside the ground and former players, such as ex-England international Frank Worthington, savoured the occasion in the stands.