Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle United: Kai Havertz's late goal gives hosts three points

Chelsea snatched a dramatic winner against Newcastle in the first game at Stamford Bridge since Blues' Russian owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government.

The game looked to be heading towards a goalless draw before Kai Havertz expertly controlled a ball forward and fired into the net in the 88th minute.

It was a tough goal to concede for Newcastle who had wanted Havertz to be sent off in the first half for catching Dan Burn in the face with an elbow when jumping, but the German only received a booking.

Before the goal, both sides had struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Chelsea taking 75 minutes to produce an effort on target.

Newcastle's Miguel Almiron had earlier forced a fine save from home goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with a well-struck 25-yard volley and Burn headed just wide.

Just as had happened in Chelsea's 3-1 away win over Norwich on Thursday, a small section of fans chanted Abramovich's name, for a brief period in the second half.

Abramovich has been sanctioned as a part of the government's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, meaning his assets, including Chelsea Football Club, have been frozen.

A good end to a tough week for Chelsea and Tuchel

Chelsea stay third, but are now only seven points behind second-placed Liverpool and 10 adrift of leaders Manchester City. Meanwhile, Newcastle, beaten for the first time in nine Premier League matches, drop to 14th, but are 10 points clear of the relegation zone

The relief and delight shown from Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, both at the goal and again at the final whistle, showed what this meant to him by screaming at the fans and punching the air.

And it was easy to see why he was so emotional with the club's very existence potentially under threat.

Abramovich has been the Chelsea owner for nearly 19 years, a period in which they have won 21 trophies, including the Premier League on five occasions and the Champions League twice.

But the current sanctions against him have stopped him selling Chelsea, and mean the club are unable to buy or sell players, cannot sell any more tickets for games, have had their bank accounts suspended and have had to close the club shop.

The government said it would issue a special licence that allowed fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches, although the club's wage bill stands at £28m a month.

More to follow.

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Chelsea

Squad number16Player nameMendy

Squad number14Player nameChalobah

Squad number4Player nameChristensen

Squad number2Player nameRüdiger

Squad number31Player nameSarr

Squad number7Player nameKanté

Squad number5Player nameJorginho

Squad number19Player nameMount

Squad number22Player nameZiyech

Squad number29Player nameHavertz

Squad number11Player nameWerner

Squad number8Player nameKovacic

Squad number9Player nameLukaku

Squad number10Player namePulisic

Newcastle United

Squad number1Player nameDúbravka

Squad number19Player nameManquillo

Squad number6Player nameLascelles

Squad number5Player nameSchär

Squad number33Player nameBurn

Squad number13Player nameTargett

Squad number24Player nameAlmirón

Squad number39Player nameBruno Guimarães

Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff

Squad number23Player nameMurphy

Squad number20Player nameWood

Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin

Squad number21Player nameFraser

Squad number34Player nameGayle

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 4-3-3

16Mendy

14Chalobah4Christensen2Rüdiger31Sarr

7Kanté5Jorginho19Mount

22Ziyech29Havertz11Werner

Substitutes

Newcastle

Formation 5-4-1

1Dúbravka

19Manquillo6Lascelles5Schär33Burn13Targett

24Almirón39Guimarães Rodriguez Moura36S Longstaff23Murphy

20Wood

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0.

Second Half ends, Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0.

N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Matt Targett (Newcastle United).

Attempt saved. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by N'Golo Kanté.

Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Jorginho (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United).

Substitution, Newcastle United. Ryan Fraser replaces Jacob Murphy.

Substitution, Newcastle United. Dwight Gayle replaces Javier Manquillo.

Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.

Goal! Chelsea 1, Newcastle United 0. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jorginho with a through ball.

Offside, Chelsea. Mateo Kovacic tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.

Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).

Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matt Targett with a cross.

Foul by Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea).

Matt Targett (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).

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