Newcastle wanted Chelsea’s Kai Havertz to be sent off for elbowing Dan Burn, but Havertz only received a yellow card after a check by the video assistant referee
Chelsea snatched a dramatic winner against Newcastle in the first game at Stamford Bridge since Blues’ Russian owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government.
The game looked to be heading towards a goalless draw before Kai Havertz expertly controlled a ball forward and fired into the net in the 88th minute.
It was a tough goal to concede for Newcastle who had wanted Havertz to be sent off in the first half for catching Dan Burn in the face with an elbow when jumping, but the German only received a booking.
Before the goal, both sides had struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Chelsea taking 75 minutes to produce an effort on target.
Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron had earlier forced a fine save from home goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with a well-struck 25-yard volley and Burn headed just wide.
Just as had happened in Chelsea’s 3-1 away win over Norwich on Thursday, a small section of fans chanted Abramovich’s name, for a brief period in the second half.
Abramovich has been sanctioned as a part of the government’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, meaning his assets, including Chelsea Football Club, have been frozen.
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A good end to a tough week for Chelsea and Tuchel
Chelsea stay third, but are now only seven points behind second-placed Liverpool and 10 adrift of leaders Manchester City. Meanwhile, Newcastle, beaten for the first time in nine Premier League matches, drop to 14th, but are 10 points clear of the relegation zone
The relief and delight shown from Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, both at the goal and again at the final whistle, showed what this meant to him by screaming at the fans and punching the air.
And it was easy to see why he was so emotional with the club’s very existence potentially under threat.
Abramovich has been the Chelsea owner for nearly 19 years, a period in which they have won 21 trophies, including the Premier League on five occasions and the Champions League twice.
But the current sanctions against him have stopped him selling Chelsea, and mean the club are unable to buy or sell players, cannot sell any more tickets for games, have had their bank accounts suspended and have had to close the club shop.
The government said it would issue a special license that allowed fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches, although the club’s wage bill stands at £ 28m a month.
More to follow.
Player of the match
BurnDan Burn
with an average of 7.28
- ChelseaChelseaChelseaNewcastleNewcastle UnitedNewcastle United
ChelseaAvgSquad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
6.27
Squad number7Player nameKantéAverage rating
6.20
Squad number16Player nameMendyAverage rating
5.96
Squad number2Player nameRüdigerAverage rating
5.91
Squad number19Player nameMountAverage rating
5.77
Squad number 8Player nameKovacicAverage rating
5.74
Squad number22Player nameZiyechAverage rating
5.61
Squad number14Player nameChalobahAverage rating
5.61
Squad number4Player nameChristensenAverage rating
5.58
Squad number 10Player namePulisicAverage rating
5.56
Squad number5Player nameJorginhoAverage rating
5.45
Squad number31Player nameSarrAverage rating
5.19
Squad number11Player nameWernerAverage rating
5.18
Squad number9Player nameLukakuAverage rating
4.89
Newcastle United AvgSquad number33Player nameBurnAverage rating
7.28
Squad number 39 Player name Bruno Guimarães Average rating
7.04
Squad number13Player nameTargettAverage rating
7.00
Squad number5Player nameSchärAverage rating
6.87
Squad number1Player nameDúbravkaAverage rating
6.75
Squad number36Player nameS LongstaffAverage rating
6.60
Squad number23Player nameMurphyAverage rating
6.59
Squad number20Player nameWoodAverage rating
6.58
Squad number 10 Player name Saint-Maximin Average rating
6.50
Squad number19Player nameManquilloAverage rating
6.50
Squad number24Player nameAlmirónAverage rating
6.49
Squad number6Player nameLascellesAverage rating
6.20
Squad number21Player nameFraserAverage rating
5.26
Squad number34Player nameGayleAverage rating
4.66
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-ups Chelsea
Formation 4-3-3
16Mendy14Chalobah4Christensen2Rüdiger31Sarr7Kanté5Jorginho19Mount22Ziyech29Havertz11Werner
- 16Mendy14Chalobah4Christensen2RüdigerBooked at 90mins31SarrSubstituted forPulisicat 78’minutes7Kanté5Jorginho19MountSubstituted forKovacicat 63’minutesBooked at 87mins22ZiyechBooked at 58mins29 HavertzBooked at 39mins11WernerSubstituted forLukakuat 63’minutes
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga3Alonso6Thiago Silva8Kovacic9Lukaku10Pulisic12Loftus-Cheek17Saúl18Barkley
Newcastle
Formation 5-4-1
1Dúbravka19Manquillo6Lascelles5Schär33Burn13Targett24Almirón39Guimarães Rodriguez Moura36S Longstaff23Murphy20Wood
- 1Dúbravka19ManquilloSubstituted forGayleat 90 + 1’minutesBooked at 90mins6Lascelles5Schär33Burn13Targett24AlmirónSubstituted forSaint-Maximinat 69’minutes39Guimarães Rodriguez MouraBooked at 80mins36S Longstaff23MurphyBooked at 50minsSubstituted for Fraserat 90 + 1’minutes20Wood
Substitutes
- 3Dummett10Saint-Maximin11Ritchie17Krafth21Fraser26Darlow29Gillespie34Gayle50De Bolle
Referee: David CooteAttendance: 40,026Match StatsHome TeamChelseaAway TeamNewcastlePossessionHome73% Away27% ShotsHome8Away7Shots on TargetHome3Away2CornersHome7Away2FoulsHome17Away16Live TextPost update
Match ends, Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0.
90 ‘+ 5’ Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0.
90 ‘+ 4’ Post update
N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90 ‘+ 4’ Post update
Foul by Matt Targett (Newcastle United).
90 ‘+ 3’ Post update
Attempt saved. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top center of the goal. Assisted by N’Golo Kanté.
90 ‘+ 2’Booking
Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90 ‘+ 2’ Post update
Jorginho (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90 ‘+ 2’ Post update
Foul by Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United).
90 ‘+ 1’Substitution
Substitution, Newcastle United. Ryan Fraser replaces Jacob Murphy.
90 ‘+ 1’Substitution
Substitution, Newcastle United. Dwight Gayle replaces Javier Manquillo.
90 ‘+ 1’Booking
Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.
89’goalGoal!
Goal! Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jorginho with a through ball.
88 ‘Post update
Offside, Chelsea. Mateo Kovacic tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.
87’Booking
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
87 ‘Post update
Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).
87 ‘Post update
Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86 ‘Post update
Attempt saved. Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) header from the center of the box is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Matt Targett with a cross.
85 ‘Post update
Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea).
85 ‘Post update
Matt Targett (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84 ‘Post update
Foul by N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea).
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Source: bbc.com
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