AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2014 - SEMI FINALS - 1ST LEG - ALL RESULTS

Séwé Sport edged Congolese visitors AC Léopards

22 Sep 2014
AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014 - SEMI FINALS - 1St LEG - ALL RESULTS

AS Vita used home advantage to win against CS Sfaxien.

22 Sep 2014
AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014 - SEMI FINALS - 1ST LEG - SO FAR

Entente Setif of Algeria made significant headway

21 Sep 2014
AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2014 - SEMI FINALS - 1ST LEG - SO FAR

Al Ahly (Red Devils) take first-leg advantage.

21 Sep 2014
AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2014 - SEMI FINALS - PREVIEW - AL AHLY FACE DIFFICULT TASK AT COTON SPORT

Al Ahly go into this weekend's Confederation Cup semi-finals on a run of one-win-in-five-games which has left the favourites short of confidence.

20 Sep 2014
COACHES - SIERRA LEONE - ATTO MENSAH APPOINTED AS NEW COACH

Mensha earned his coaching qualification in Netherlands, alongside former Nigerian international Finidi George. Former Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi did the same course.

19 Sep 2014
STARS IN EUROPE - GABON - AUBAMEYANG STRIKES IN DORTMUND VICTORY

Arsenal's Champions League Group D campaign got off to a poor start as Borussia Dortmund scored either side of half-time to secure a deserved victory.

18 Sep 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - SIERRA LEONE - COACH - NORTHERN IRISH COACH JOHNNY McKINSTRY SACKED

The 29-year-old was first appointed as caretaker coach of Leone Stars in April last year during the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, following the resignation of Swede Lars Olof Mattson.

18 Sep 2014

STARS IN EUROPE - GHANA - CLUB - Ayew helps Swansea hold Chelsea

CHELSEA ANDRE AYEW


PREMIER LEAGUE (ENGLAND)
MATCHDAY 01

Chelsea vs Swansea 2:2

Goals Chelsea:
Oscar 23′ 
Fernandez 30′ (og)

Goals Swansea:
A.Ayew 29′ 
Gomis 55′ (pen)
                

Chelsea had Thibaut Courtois sent off as they started their Premier League title defence with a draw against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

Oscar's free-kick put the Blues ahead before Andre Ayew stabbed a close-range equaliser after keeper Courtois had kept out Bafetimbi Gomis's header.

Federico Fernandez put Willian's cross past his own keeper before Courtois was sent off after bringing down Gomis.

New signing Asmir Begovic came on but failed to stop Gomis's spot-kick.

Swansea played with an extra man for more than half an hour but could not make the most of the advantage.

The dangerous Gomis had the ball in the net but was ruled offside while Jefferson Montero, who was excellent throughout, forced a fine save from Begovic.

Same old Chelsea struggle to sparkle.

Much has been made of Chelsea's failure to attract a box-office name from outside the Premier League this summer.

Even Jose Mourinho, who signed a new four-year contract on Friday, has warned of the danger of standing still yet neither of his two main close-season buys started the game.

Chelsea started with a team of familiar faces.

In contrast, Aston Villa won at Bournemouth with six new players in their starting line-up while Manchester United had four summer additions in the side that started the 1:0 win over Tottenham

Diego Costa did, despite his manager claiming in the build-up that the forward was a major doubt, but the Spain international rarely looked like scoring, let alone repeating his hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last season.

The champions contributed to a high-tempo, entertaining game but did not look like a side that won the league by eight points last season.

Even before Courtois's dismissal, Swansea had more shots than the hosts and were lively throughout, full of enterprise and in Montero had the best players on the pitch.

Will Mourinho sign anyone before the transfer deadline?

It does not get any easier for Chelsea, with last season's nearest challengers Manchester City next up.

It is no secret that the champions have been trying to strengthen their defence, with Everton's John Stones a target.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Thibaut Courtois's red card 'changed everything'

There are still another three weeks before the 1 September deadline but, if Chelsea's current defence was trying to persuade Mourinho not to strengthen the back four, they failed.

Ayew, Swansea's new signing from Marseille, took his goal well but the Chelsea players were slow to react after Courtois kept out Gomis's powerful header.

 

 

10 Aug 2015
(BBC Sport by Neil Johnston)

Related countries

Related articles