LONDON: Marcos Alonso’s double reignited Chelsea’s title defence by securing a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris blundered to enable the champions to recover from their opening weekend loss.

It was a gloomy start to Tottenham’s temporary residency at Wembley Stadium after going unbeaten throughout its final season at White Hart Lane before it was demolished to make way for a new venue.

For all the noise and wall of flags that greeted their arrival, Spurs needed an early goal to feel at ease in their surroundings.

It was Chelsea, however, who made the breakthrough against the run of play on 23 minutes when Spaniard Alonso thumped home a superb free kick from 20 metres after Dele Alli had fouled David Luiz.

The shock jolted Spurs, who spent much of the game peppering Chelsea’s goal with Harry Kane hitting the post and Christian Eriksen also going close.

They eventually scored when Michy Batshuayi put through his own net from Eriksen’s free kick two minutes after coming on but, as Spurs pushed for the winner, Chelsea hit back on 88 minutes and Batshuayi’s blushes were spared.

Lloris threw the ball out to Victor Wanyama and Pedro Rodriguez disposed the Tottenham midfielder. The ball was then thread through for Alonso, whose shot squirmed under the normally reliable Lloris in the Tottenham goal.

Last season’s top two now have a win apiece after Tottenham opened the season with a victory over Newcastle United last Sunday while Chelsea opened their title defense by losing at home to Burnley.

TWO WINS OUT OF TWO

Earlier, promoted Huddersfield Town made it two wins out of two in the Premier League as a superb Aaron Mooy strike gave them a 1-0 home win over Newcastle.

The hosts built on last week’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, which marked their return to the top flight after a 45-year absence, when Australian Mooy grabbed the winner in the 50th minute, curling in a shot from 18 metres following a one-two with Elias Kachunga.

Newcastle, who also won promotion from the Championship last season, should have equalised in the 68th minute but Ayoze Perez wasted a chance from close range.

Huddersfield occupy the dizzying heights of second in the table, equal on points with Manchester United but with an inferior goal difference, only the third time a promoted side have won their first two games in the Premier League.

“The boss has a saying to have no limits and we all stand behind that,” Mooy told Sky Sports. “It is only early but it’s a great start. It has been a great start so far, but we can’t get carried away, it’s early in the season. We just have to keep working hard and keep trying to improve.”

JESE SINKS ARSENAL

In Saturday’s late game, Arsenal’s early-season optimism after their opening day win over Leicester City was dissipated quickly as they lost 1-0 at Stoke City.

Jese Rodriguez made a memorable start to life at Stoke by scoring the only goal 90 seconds after the break at the bet365 Stadium.

Jese joined Stoke on loan this week to relaunch his career after an underwhelming spell at Paris St Germain and the former Real Madrid player exchanged passes with Saido Berahino before slotting home a low finish.

The home side, revelling once again in being Arsenal’s bogey team, then produced a magnificent rearguard action to keep out the Gunners, who had an equaliser from Alexandre Lacazette ruled out for a fractional offside.

“It was a very frustrating evening. I feel we had plenty of chances to score and didn’t,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told BT Sport.

“We know in this kind of game it’s important not to make a mistake, but straight after half-time we were too sluggish on defending and we paid for it.”

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2017