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Jorginho, Reece James and Kurt Zouma hit the net to give Frank Lampard’s Chelsea a 3-1 Premier League victory at Brighton.
Captain Jorginho scored a typically brilliant penalty, winger James threw a bolt into the top corner and impressive center-back Zouma benefited from a deflection in the Blues’ comfortable opening weekend win.
German striker Timo Werner proved himself the newcomers’ choice, wreaking havoc with his impressive pace and incisive running lines.
Leandro Trossard briefly had Brighton’s level, but Graham Potter’s men were eventually overwhelmed.
The Blues have shell out over £ 200 million on a string of high-profile newcomers, and Lampard hopes their rebuilding of Stamford Bridge will remain a work in progress for some time to come.
While Werner appeared in style, fellow star from Germany and new kid Kai Havertz could only offer glimpses of his clear talent in a rusty garter debut.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek struggled to master a more advanced role designed to maximize Werner’s impact, allowing the fast forward to attack from the left.
However, the England player is still overcoming the long-term Achilles problem that kept him out for most of the last period, and Lampard will certainly give him room for a misplaced exit.
With Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva yet to appear and more new recruits yet to arrive, Chelsea’s promise is not in doubt. Throw in more fluidity and extra defensive form, and Lampard could be on the long-awaited track in West London.
Brighton lost the summer acquisition of Adam Lallana through injury just before half-time, with Republic of Ireland international Aaron Connolly replacing former Liverpool midfielder.
Chelsea’s first half was marked by a series of misdirected balls and inopportune runs, but the Blues looked like a threat thanks to Werner, and the speed of the German hit man off the mark was instrumental in helping the visitors take the lead.
Werner caught Maty Ryan by surprise by clinging to a direct pass from Jorginho inside the box, and the Brighton goalkeeper was left with little choice but to control the German’s run.
Jorginho won any argument in favor of the penalty shot and duly converted through his accelerated trademark.
Former Chelsea winger Tariq Lamptey defended Brighton well and would have had an assist if only Neal Maupay had been able to fully connect with a mocking cross.
Steven Alzate pulled off a clever save from Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Chelsea’s continually questioned goalkeeper reacted well to the 20-yard drive.
Werner approached the baseline from the left and shot low on the target to the death of the half, but Ryan was up to the snapshot.
Chelsea paid for their failure to find a rhythm after the break, with Trossard’s diving effort dodging the undoubtedly frustrated Kepa. The Spanish stopper would surely have expected better from himself, but he couldn’t put a glove on Brighton’s long-range attack on equal terms.
While the Seagulls were still reliving the tie, Chelsea ran on the attack and James threw an even better shot in the top corner. The end of the bullet from the England Under-21 winger was as striking as it was timely, immediately pulling the Blues out of that self-inflicted hole.
Lewis Dunk should have punished Chelsea again, but he could only nod from four yards when he was totally unmarked at the back post.
Chelsea seized the clemency and duly extended their lead courtesy of a slice of fortune, when Zouma’s shot veered sharply off Adam Webster to roll into the net past bad foot Ryan.
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