Lukaku breaks a Bridge duck
ROMELU LUKAKU waited 10 years for his first goal at Stamford Bridge – then two came along at once. The big Belgian, whose debut for the club was a 3-0 win over Norwich in August 2011, had failed to register here 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 £97million move from Inter Milan in the summer, he broke his duck with two excellent – but very different – goals either side of an effort from Mateo Kovacic (right).
Boss Thomas Tuchel hailed Lukaku’s efforts. He said: “It was very important he opened up the game for us with the first and scored a fantastic second one. He loves these kind of challenges. He was the key factor today.”
The fact Chelsea kept another clean sheet was thanks to Edouard Mendy, who had a stormer between the sticks, particularly in the first half.
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 clinical when chances presented themselves.
Kovacic created the opener when the Croatian’s lovely pass took out threevilla 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.
If anything, Chelsea’s opener seemed to settle Dean 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.
Mendy then produced a fine double save to keep out Tyrone Mings and Konsa.
But two minutes after the restartvilla 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 then clipped a neat finish past Steer.
With the seconds running down, Lukaku put the tin hat on victory by thumping a delicious second past Steer and into the top corner.
Villa boss Smith was envious of Lukaku and said: “That’s why they paid £94m, he can put it in the top bin, as he did.”