Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea: Mourinho's men battle back to salvage draw
Ayoze Perez and Georginio Wijnaldum gave the
hosts a shock two-goal lead at St James's Park
but late responses from Willian and Ramires
prevented a fourth Blues league defeat
A late comeback spared Jose Mourinho's blushes
as Chelsea denied Steve McClaren his first
Premier League win in charge of Newcastle
United after coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.
Goals from Ramires and Willian earned the
champions a share of the spoils at St James's
Park on Saturday after it appeared Ayoze Perez
and Georginio Wijnaldum had secured the points
for Newcastle.
Chelsea entered the game on the back of off-field
issues, with club doctor Eva Carneiro's
controversial departure coming in a week when
Diego Costa was retrospectively given a three-
match ban for violent conduct in last Saturday's
win over Arsenal.
And Jose Mourinho's issues grew as Newcastle
enjoyed the better of the first half, deservedly
heading to the break ahead thanks to Perez's fine
strike.
Chelsea responded impressively after half-time,
only to be hit by a sucker punch when Wijnaldum
nodded home a second.
But the visitors showed their resolve thereafter,
with Ramires' wonder strike and Willian's
fortuitous goal ensuring they left the north-east
with a point.
McClaren opted to immediately recall striker
Aleksandar Mitrovic following a three-game ban,
with Chelsea starting Loic Remy in place of the
suspended Costa.
The latter offered the first threat, Remy poking just
wide after being found by Branislav Ivanovic.
Newcastle then came into the game, Mitrovic
heading just wide from Wijnaldum's cross. That
set the tone for a good spell as Moussa Sissoko
hammered narrowly wide from 20 yards.
The hosts continued to look dangerous, with
Chelsea thankful for two good saves from Asmir
Begovic in quick succession. He first denied Perez
from close range, before repeating the trick after
Daryl Janmaat stretched to fire at goal.
Chelsea threatened an opener themselves soon
after, Cesc Fabregas unleashing a powerful 25-
yard strike that forced a fine stop from Tim Krul.
And Krul's intervention looked all the more
important when Newcastle took a deserved 42nd-
minute lead through Perez.
The forward controlled a Vurnon Anita cross after
Kurt Zouma inexplicably let the ball drop before
unleashing a fizzing volley which flew in off the
post.
Chelsea produced the expected riposte after the
interval and almost levelled when Remy headed
Oscar's cross just wide but they failed to make
the most of their dominance and Newcastle
capitalised.
Perez sent in a threatening corner and Wijnaldum,
profiting from being completely unmarked, glanced
a header into the bottom corner.
Chelsea were given a route back into the game
thanks to a stunning Ramires goal, the Brazilian's
rasping 25-yard drive flying into the top corner
with 14 minutes to go.
They should have equalised in the 83rd minute as
Fabregas' stunning long ball found Pedro, who hit
over when one-on-one with Krul.
An equaliser came three minutes later,
however, as Willian's free-kick evaded everybody
and flew into the net.
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