Diego Costa struck twice for Chelsea as the Blues secured a 2-2 draw in a controversial game at Swansea City.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard opened the scoring in a dominant first-half performance from the Blues, before the hosts fought back to equalise and then take the lead in quick succession;\u00a0Gylfi Sigurdsson and Leroy Fer grabbing the goals.<\/p>\n
However, Costa managed to grab the equaliser in the final 10 minutes – although there were calls for him to not even be on the pitch at that moment following a series of\u00a0indiscretions.<\/p>\n
Willian stung the palms of Fabianski five minutes in, as Chelsea dominated the early passages of play.<\/p>\n
It was the Brazilian who was providing the biggest threat for the Blues, and a cross sent in from the right wing was only just gathered by Fabianski with Costa lurking inches away.<\/p>\n
The Spanish forward missed the chance to open the scoring then, but he broke the deadlock 17 minutes in from the edge of the area.<\/p>\n
A poor clearing header from Federico Fernandez fell to Oscar, who played a lovely ball into the Costa\u2019s feet, and the forward made no mistake with a powerful strike into the bottom corner.<\/p>\n
The lead was almost double moments later, but Fabianski saved from Eden Hazard after the winger was sent behind the Swansea defence.<\/p>\n
The Swans did manage a rare chance amid a series of Chelsea opportunities; Sigurdsson picking up a loose ball just outside the area and firing slightly wide of Thibaut Courtois\u2019 goal, with the keeper flailing between the posts.<\/p>\n
Costa, who was excelling in his role as front man, somehow managed to keep the lead at just one goal despite being presented with a glorious opportunity to grab a second on the cusp of half-time.<\/p>\n
A corner evaded everyone in the box and found the Spaniard a yard away from goal at the far post, but his strike ran parallel with the goal line, finding teammate John Terry rather than the back of the net.<\/p>\n
Terry attempted to turn the ball home, but his strike was deflected wide for another set piece, and for all Chelsea\u2019s dominance, the half ended with the Blues still only one goal to the good.<\/p>\n
Willian forced a save from Fabianski 10 minutes into the second period from a free-kick, as the visitors continued to press for a second, while a Hazard cross rolled inches away from the goal line with no one able to tap the ball home.<\/p>\n
The inability to double the lead continued to hang over Chelsea\u2019s heads, with Kyle Naughton and Sigurdsson going close to pulling the tie level.<\/p>\n
And the latter finally did draw parity from the penalty spot, converting past Courtois after the keeper fouled the Iceland star on the edge of his area.<\/p>\n
Courtois, who had little to do up until conceding, then saw the ball in the back of his net again moments later, Leroy Fer rolling the ball through the keeper\u2019s legs after breaking through on goal.<\/p>\n
However, there was a big claim that the goal should have been disallowed, seeing as Fer fouled Gary Cahill in the process of robbing the defender of possession.<\/p>\n
Costa then felt he should have been awarded a penalty, being lightly taken down by Fabianski, who then pulled out a fantastic save to prevent Oscar\u2019s curling attempt finding the top corner.<\/p>\n
Chance after chance came and went for the Blues, before Costa – who was lucky to still be on the pitch – crashed a bicycle kick home from close range after Branislav Ivanovic\u2019s shot deflected into the air.<\/p>\n
The equaliser was secured, but it was not enough for Antonio Conte, who was urging his team higher and higher up the pitch.<\/p>\n
Fabianski pushed a powerful Oscar strike wide, a Hazard attempt was blocked and Victor Moses thrashed the ball over from a good position.<\/p>\n
There were calls for a second Swansea penalty as Ki was pulled down in the area in injury time, but nothing was given, and the final whistle ensured the spoils were shared between the two sides.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: Talksport<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Diego Costa struck twice for Chelsea as the Blues secured a 2-2 draw in a controversial game at Swansea City. The Spaniard opened the scoring in a dominant first-half performance from the Blues, before the hosts fought back to equalise and then take the lead in quick succession;\u00a0Gylfi Sigurdsson and Leroy Fer grabbing the goals. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":247390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n