Chelsea 1 Newcastle United 1
Two glaring goalkeeping errors ensured Chelsea and Newcastle United had to settle for a share of the points in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge today.
Chelsea went ahead after eight minutes when Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given somehow allowed a low shot by Boudewijn Zenden to squirm through his legs and over the goal line.
It looked like being the only goal of the game in front of 42,000 fans until Chelsea keeper Ed de Goey spilled a fierce shot by Newcastle's new signing Laurent Robert and Chilean Clarence Acuna pounced to equalise 13 minutes from time.
The point was just reward for Newcastle's improved second-half performance against a Chelsea side for whom Zenden, Emmanuel Petit and Frank Lampard made their first starts.
Chelsea: de Goey, Terry, Le Saux, Melchiot, Desailly, Lampard, Petit, Zenden, Gronkjaer, Zola, Hasselbaink. Subs: Jokanovic, Stanic, Gallas, Gudjohnsen, Bosnich.
Newcastle: Given, Barton, Elliott, Dabizas, Hughes, Lee, Acuna, Bassedas, Robert, Ameobi, Bellamy. Subs: O'Brien, Griffin, Harper, Quinn, Lua-Lua.