Premier League: Chelsea 3 Norwich 1

27 August 2011 18:33

Chelsea saw off Premier League newcomers Norwich City 3-1 in an incident-packed match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Jose Bosingwa opened the scoring with a strike from distance before an error from Chelsea reserve goalkeeper Hilario gifted the visitors an equaliser through Grant Holt.

But Andres Villas-Boas' men pushed on after the setback and were rewarded through a Frank Lampard penalty, before new signing Juan Mata sealed the three points in the closing stages.

The hosts were on attack from the outset with Ramires testing John Ruddy from long distance, the Norwich goalkeeper doing well to parry the ball away for a corner.

But Ruddy could do little when Bosingwa was afforded too much space outside the penalty area and powered an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the net in the sixth minute.

Norwich composed themselves after the early setback, with Grant Holt almost equalising after narrowly missing Wes Hoolahan’s delivery when any sort of contact would have carried the ball beyond Hilario.

That foray forward galvanised Norwich, who pushed onwards and were twice unlucky not to put the ball in the net in one flowing counter-attack.

Chris Martin was initially thwarted by Hilario, who then did well to palm away Kyle Naughton’s follow-up.

Chelsea ended the first half the stronger side, going close through a Didier Drogba free-kick and a Florent Malouda half-volley from the edge of the area.

And the home side began the second half in the same manner they ended the first, imposing themselves on Norwich from the outset.

But the Blues were largely limited to efforts on goal via set-pieces – the most clear-cut of which was Branislav Ivanovic's free header from a Lampard corner that the Serbian international sent flying wide.

Against the run of play, Norwich netted the most unlikely of equalisers, as a long ball into the box was misjudged by Hilario, who collided with Ivanovic to allow Holt to hook the ball into the vacant net.

The game swung from end to end as it entered its latter stages before Norwich earned their third red card in as many games, as Ruddy brought down Ramires after the Brazilian burst beyond the gloveman.

Substitute goalkeeper Declan Rudd was brought on but could not deny Chelsea as Lampard struck his spot-kick straight down the middle.

Chelsea further asserted their dominance afterwards, with substitute Mata marking his debut with a calm finish after pouncing on an error from the Norwich defence.