English Premier League: Mata double earns Chelsea victory at Spurs
Two goals by Juan Mata helped leaders Chelsea to a 4-2 victory in a captivating London derby at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday as they maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Mata, signed for Chelsea by Andre Villas Boas, ruined his former manager’s hopes of getting one over the club that sacked him in March by killing off Tottenham’s second-half revival. Gary Cahill’s volley gave Chelsea a deserved halftime lead but Tottenham were re-energised after the break and goals by William Gallas and Jermaine Defoe swung the match the way of the hosts. It was Defoe’s 200th career goal but it proved merely a footnote as Mata took centre stage.
The Spanish playmaker punished a poor Gallas clearance after 66 minutes and struck again to put Chelsea back in control. Tottenham had chances for an equaliser but Daniel Sturridge added a fourth for Chelsea in stoppage time. Roberto Di Matteo’s European champions now have 22 points from eight matches
Tottenham, deprived of winger Gareth Bale after he rushed to be with his girlfriend who went into labour, suffered their first defeat since losing to Newcastle United on the opening day of the season. Not since the days of Jose Mourinho have Chelsea enjoyed such a productive start to the season and back-to-back away wins at Arsenal and Tottenham mean they are serious title contenders.
“It was only the 10 or 12 minutes early in the second half that Tottenham got back in the game, we lost a bit of control but for the rest of the game we took the initiative,” said Di Matteo, who was without suspended skipper John Terry. “It was a test of our character today, coming here against a team in form with four consecutive wins. It was a big derby for us, especially after the international break there are always a few question marks but the answers we gave were perfect.”
Villas-Boas, who was greeted warmly by the Chelsea bench before kickoff, said it had been a game full of emotion.
“We came out strong in the second half, full of desire and ambition, but they unlocked us with individual brilliance and creativity,” said the Portuguese.
United battle past Stoke
At Old Trafford, Rooney went from zero to hero with a double strike after the United striker initially gave Stoke a shock lead in the 10th minute when he headed into his own net as he tried to clear from Ryan Shawcross.
Rooney was quickly back in United’s good books with a headed equaliser – his first club goal of the season – from Robin van Persie’s cross in the 27th minute. Van Persie put United ahead on the stroke of half-time. Danny Welbeck got United’s third before Michael Kightly’s solo effort reduced the deficit but Rooney sealed the win with his second goal.
Super-sub Dzeko delivers again
Meanwhile, Edin Dzeko gave 10-man Manchester City a dramatic 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion as the Bosnian striker came off the bench to score twice in the last 10 minutes. In other matches, Raheem Sterling bagged his first Liverpool goal to clinch a 1-0 win over Reading that ended the Reds’ wait for a first home league success under boss Brendan Rodgers.
Elsewhere, West Ham cruised to a 4-1 victory over Southampton while, Swansea beat Wigan 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium. Fulham defender Chris Baird piled on the misery for struggling Aston Villa with an 84th minute strike to give his team a 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2012.
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