Reuters – Two goals from Marcos Alonso gave Chelsea a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the first-ever Premier League game at Wembley Stadium.
For all the noise and wall of flags that greeted their arrival, Spurs needed an early goal to feel at ease in their new surroundings.
It was Chelsea, though, who made the breakthrough against the run of play on 23 minutes when 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 got a goal on 82 minutes but only when Michy Batshuayi headed an Eriksen free kick into his own goal two
The striker looked disconsolate but the goal heralded a frantic finale in which Tottenham had a penalty appeal turned down and Chelsea scored on the counter-attack after 88 minutes when Luiz intercepted and Pedro fed Alonso on the overlap.
The fullback shot low but must have been as surprised as anyone when goalkeeper Hugo Lloris somehow let the ball through.
Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner exudes positivity but not even the upbeat German expected the Yorkshire club to win their first two games in the Premier League.
The Terriers have a 100 percent record in their first season in the top flight in 45 years after they followed up last week’s 3-0 triumph at Crystal Palace with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Sunday.
I don’t have to pinch myself but I didn’t expect it,” Wagner said after the club’s opening home game.
“If anyone knows that in football anything is possible it is me and our club after what we saw last season and what we felt.
“But we only wanted to be brave in every single game, only wanted to search for our chance and I think we have done it so far. We are over the moon with six points from the two opening games and two clean sheets.”
Roared on by a 24,128 crowd, Huddersfield attacked from the outset and then defended with determination after they went ahead through Aaron Mooy’s excellent strike.
I think these points were deserved that is what makes it even bigger for me. We had to invest everything from the first second to the last to get these points on board,” said Wagner, whose team won promotion via the Championship playoffs.
“We are Huddersfield Town, nobody should forget this. We got promoted at Wembley but we have started the season with two wins and six points. This is unbelievable. Everybody has invested so much and I am happy for them,” added the German.
Midfielder Tom Ince, son of former Manchester United and England international Paul and one of nine new signings at Huddersfield, said Wagner has told the team that reaching the Premier League is not enough.
“The manager has come and said it, we are not here just to be part of the league we are here to show people what we are about and that we deserve to be in the Premier League,” Ince said.
“Today was about winning. Two games, six points and we move on.”
There were no signs of stage-fright from Huddersfield on Sunday despite the high levels of anticipation from the home crowd.
“I told them (the players) ‘enjoy it – you delivered so that this atmosphere will happen’,” said Wagner.