Late own goal rescues win for Chelsea against dogged Newcastle

Chelsea continued their winning start to the Premier League under Maurizio Sarri as they edged to a 2-1 success at Newcastle United in a match that exploded with late drama.

The Blues dominated throughout but struggled to break down the home side's stubborn rearguard until Eden Hazard capped his first start of the season with a clinical penalty on 76 minutes.

Newcastle responded and substitute Joselu looked to have rescued Rafael Benitez's men with a bullet header from DeAndre Yedlin's superb cross seven minutes from the end.

However, Yedlin's impressive afternoon soon turned sour as he prodded Marcos Alonso's low drive into his own net to gift the visitors the points.

The result sees Chelsea move up to second, behind Liverpool on goal difference. Newcastle are 16th after losing their first two season-opening Premier League home matches for just the second time.

Chelsea will now look to maintain their run when they host Bournemouth next Saturday, while Benitez's winless Magpies face a midweek trip to Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup before visiting the champions, Manchester City at the weekend.

Controversial decisions create drama and more calls for VAR. Newcastle defended for their lives throughout and despite having very little possession, the home team were edging closer to frustrating Chelsea until a penalty was awarded for Fabian Schar's challenge on Alonso. Replays suggested the Magpies debutant had got a foot on the ball but had gone in with a scissor-like motion. With no VAR to call upon, Hazard stepped up and converted. The hosts may have felt hard done by, but then got a bit of fortune themselves as Yedlin appeared to catch Olivier Giroud with an elbow in the build up to the equaliser. You could argue the decisions evened themselves out in the end, but this match desperately needed the goals and it made for an enthralling finale to what had been an otherwise drab affair.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea). Injected pace and creativity into Chelsea's attacks throughout. Capped his first start with a well taken spot kick.

NEWCASTLE: Dubravka 7, Yedlin 7, Clark 6, Fernandez 7, Schar 6, Dummett 7, Murphy 6, Diame 6, Ki 6, Ritchie 6, Rondon 5. Subs: Joselu 7, Perez 5, Muto n/a.

CHELSEA: Kepa 6, Azpilicueta 7, Rudiger 6, Luiz 6, Alonso 7, Kante 6, Jorginho 8, Kovacic 6, Pedro 7, Hazard 8, Morata 5. Subs: Giroud 6, Willian 6, Barkley 5.

35' - CHELSEA CHANCE. Pedro outfoxes Ki on the right of the Newcastle box, but flashes his attempted curler wide of the far post. The Spaniard then forces a smart, low save out of Dubravka after Hazard had bamboozled three defenders on the left of the area.

51' - CHELSEA CHANCE. Hazard and Pedro combine neatly to tee up Azpilicueta, who sees his low 20-yard drive well held by Dubravka.

72' - CHELSEA HIT THE BAR. Rudiger unleashes a stunning effort from long range that cannons back off the crossbar.

76' - GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Chelsea. Chelsea make the breakthrough as Hazard steps up and fires his penalty beyond the reach of Dubravka. The spot kick was award when Schar was adjudged to have brought down Alonso.

83' - GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea. Joselu powers a brilliant near-post header into the top corner from Yedlin's right-wing cross.

87' - GOAL! Newcastle 1-2 Chelsea. Chelsea regain the lead! Yedlin puts through his own net from Alonso's low drive after Giroud had headed Willian's free kick back across goal.

Jorginho completed 86 passes out of a possible 92 in the first half (93.5%), 19 more than the whole Newcastle side combined (67).

Hazard’s goal was his 70th for Chelsea in the Premier League - overtaking Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in third (69); only Frank Lampard (147) and Didier Drogba (104) have scored more for the Blues.

Maurizio Sarri joins Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho and becomes the fifth Chelsea boss to win his opening three league matches.