It was total domination by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side as newly promoted Hull City had no answer, falling 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard made the difference on the scoresheet, but it was a team showing for Chelsea who controlled the pace and dictated attack after attack.
Brilliant passing and buildup by Blue shirts up front caused the Hull City squad to tire quickly, leaving them gassed and unable to offer anything on the attack.
Early on Hull City keeper Allan McGregor conceded a silly penalty inside six minutes after coming out of goal to challenge Fernando Torres, catching the striker late on the face with his arm. McGregor made amends though, as he saved Frank Lampard’s spot kick.
Eden Hazard then had a brilliant chance with space in the box in the 10th minute but whiffed at his first attempt and drilled his second into a defender.
Oscar grabbed the lead for Chelsea three minutes later as Eden Hazard found Kevin De Bruyne who settled and expertly played the Brazilian through for the short tap-in. De Bruyne had a fantastic match, as the 22-year-old hardly put a foot wrong and found teammates in space all over the attacking half.
The Blues continued to threaten as McGregor was forced into a wonderful save on a rocket off the foot of Frank Lampard. That right foot would surface again, as Lampard thundered in a sensational 35-yard swiveling free kick for Chelsea’s second score. Hull City finally managed their first good attack in the 42nd minute, which resulted in a long-range blast on goal by David Meyler that clocked John Terry in the chest at high speed.
Branislav Ivanovic launched a bullet of a header towards McGregor’s goal in first-half stoppage time, and with the naked eye it looks like an obvious goal, but the first test of the brand new goal-decision system proved its use. The replays and use of the technology showed part of the ball still not over the line on a brilliant double-save by the Hull keeper, who parried it upwards before palming it out.
Chelsea had 18 goal-attempts to Hull City’s two at the half, and the second period was no different. Ivanovic made a run down the right side of the box in the 64th minute, and he went down on a challenge from Robert Brady, who was quite fortunate to not give away a penalty.
The substitute additions of Hull new boys Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone helped them gain a little more possession and a bit of a foothold into the match, but it was nowhere near enough. Chelsea went to sleep somewhat in the final 15 minutes and it allowed Hull to work in the attacking half but they still hardly got a sniff on goal as they worked towards the goal.
It’s a wonderful start for Mourinho, who will be disappointed with anything but a championship this season. The decisive win, coupled with those by Manchester United and Tottenham, will put lots of pressure on Manuel Pellegrini to get a result Monday against Newcastle.
Lineups
Chelsea: Petr Cech; Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Gary Cahill, John Terry; Ramires, Frank Lampard; Oscar, Kevin De Bruyne (Andre Schurrle, 67′), Eden Hazard; Fernando Torres (Romelu Lukaku, 75′).
Hull City: Allan McGregor; Maynor Figueroa, James Chester, Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamady; David Meyler (Tom Huddlestone, 59′), Robert Koren, Robert Brady; Yannick Sagbo, Danny Graham (Jake Livermore, 59′), Sone Aluko.
