Chelsea returned to winning ways with a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, with Jordan Henderson and Joao Pedro both scoring twice.
Image credit: Jordan Henderson marked his home debut with a goal inside two minutes. Photo: Chelsea FC official website
Morgan Rogers also scored as Xabi Alonso’s side established a two-goal lead inside three minutes on Saturday 10th October. Evanilson pulled one back after half-time, but Chelsea added two more goals to finish comfortably ahead.
Chelsea 5-1 Bournemouth: a flying start
Henderson opened the scoring in the second minute of his home Chelsea debut. Cole Palmer set him up and the midfielder’s shot went in off the post.
Henderson then supplied Rogers, whose effort found the far corner via a touch from Antonio Silva. Chelsea’s official match report says just two minutes and 29 seconds had elapsed, the earliest the club had been two goals ahead in a Premier League match.
Emi Martinez kept Bournemouth out before the interval, denying Rayan and then Ryan Christie on the rebound. Chelsea reached half-time 2-0 ahead.
Chelsea 5-1 Bournemouth: Joao Pedro doubles up after the break
The hosts started the second half quickly too. Pedro Neto worked the ball across for Joao Pedro, who scored in the 46th minute.
Bournemouth replied five minutes later when Moises Caicedo’s attempted clearance struck Evanilson and went into the net. The visitors then put Chelsea under pressure, but could not turn that spell into a second goal.
Joao Pedro scored again in the 67th minute after Rogers found Pep Chavarria, whose low cross created the finish. The goal restored Chelsea’s three-goal advantage.
Henderson completes his brace
Palmer won a free-kick and Henderson took it, sending the ball over the wall and beyond Djordje Petrovic to make it 5-1 in the 70th minute.
Sky Sports’ dated match report also records both Henderson goals, Rogers’ strike and Joao Pedro’s double, corroborating the final score and scoring sequence.
Alonso then replaced Caicedo and Joao Pedro, who had returned to fitness during the international break. Romeo Lavia came on alongside Marco Palestra, making his Chelsea debut.
Returns turn into a result
Both Caicedo and Joao Pedro were back in the starting line-up after the international break, and Joao Pedro contributed two goals.
It was not a clean sheet, but the final score shows how decisively Chelsea finished the contest.
