SPORTS: Newcastle 3 Chelsea 2 (THE SUN)

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Newcastle 3 Chelsea 2 (THE SUN)

TALK OF THE TOON ... Moussa Sissoko races away after sinking Chelsea

Published: 1 hr ago

MOUSSA SISSOKO'S second-half double condemned Chelsea to their fifth defeat of the season.

With ex-Newcastle hitman Demba Ba leading the line, the Blues fell behind before half-time when Jonas Gutierrez planted a header beyond Petr Cech.

HEADS I WIN ... Jonas Gutierrez beats John Terry to nod Newcastle ahead

But they were back on level terms early in the second period when Frank Lampard blasted home his 197th goal for the club.

In-form Spaniard Juan Mata fired Chelsea in front with a delightful curling effort before Rafa Benitez was left to watch in horror as his side quickly surrendered the lead, allowing Sissoko to equalise.

SEALED WITH A KISS ... Jonas Gutierrez celebrates with his Newcastle team-mates

And it got worse for Benitez in the dying seconds as Sissoko netted his second to secure three points for the hosts.

Lampard had spurned a chance to open the scoring after Mata released Ashley Cole.

Left-back Cole, in line to win his 100th England cap later this month, skinned Mathieu Debuchy before cutting the ball back to Lampard but the veteran midfielder was off target with his left-foot effort.

A DAY TO FORGET ... Rafa Benitez reflects on another woeful result

Oscar then fired over for the Blues before Cech was called into action at the other end to deny Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse.

Ba, who quit Toon to join Chelsea in January, got the better of Fabricio Coloccini to get in a shot, which was parried back to him by Tim Krul.

HE NOSE IT'S PAINFUL ... Demba Ba was replaced after receiving a kick in the face

The striker threw himself at the rebound but sent the ball fractionally wide, taking a heavy kick in the face from Coloccini in the process.

Ba was eventually replaced by Fernando Torres after undergoing extensive treatment before Newcastle opened the scoring.

With four minutes to go until half-time, Davide Santon delivered the perfect ball for Gutierrez to get in front of John Terry and power a bullet header beyond Cech.

ALL SQUARE ... Frank Lampard thumps home the equaliser

Chelsea found a way back into the game 10 minutes into the second half when Mr Reliable Lampard rattled home a powerful strike from outside the box.

And they took the lead six minutes later with Torres teeing up Mata to net a stunning effort.

THE FACT OF THE MATA ... Spaniard Juan celebrates after making it 2-1

But the advantage only lasted until the 67th minute as Toon new-boy Sissoko found the net at a time when Chelsea were pushing too hard for a third goal.

A point would have done little to ease the pressure on interim Blues boss Benitez, but the Spaniard was left in disbelief before full-time when Santon's pull-back was lashed home by Sissoko.