{"id":23021,"date":"2021-09-11T15:50:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-11T19:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23021"},"modified":"2021-09-12T09:55:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-12T13:55:04","slug":"lukaku-scores-a-brace-as-chelsea-see-off-aston-villa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23021","title":{"rendered":"Lukaku Scores A Brace As Chelsea See Off Aston Villa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mateo Kovacic teed up Lukaku\u2019s opener then later punished Tyrone Mings\u2019 loose back-pass for a goal of his own (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Romelu Lukaku dispatched two dead-eye finishes for his first Stamford Bridge goals as Chelsea saw off Aston Villa 3-0 to move second in the Premier League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mateo Kovacic teed up Lukaku\u2019s opener then later punished Tyrone Mings\u2019 loose back-pass for a goal of his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukaku then rifled in an unstoppable left-footed strike to make it three goals in as many Premier League appearances this term, extending Chelsea\u2019s unbeaten start to four matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blues have matched leaders Manchester United\u2019s three wins and a draw in the new campaign, trailing the Red Devils only on goals scored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powerful hitman Lukaku greeted his maiden Stamford Bridge goal by mimicking an archer in celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 28-year-old has already proved himself every inch the sharpshooter extraordinaire, just three games into his second Chelsea stint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A teenage Lukaku vowed he would one day grace the Stamford Bridge pitch on a school visit to the stadium back in 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His opener against Villa proved at least 11 years in the making then, with the free-scoring Belgium striker finally realizing some long-held dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukaku drew a blank in 14 Stamford Bridge showings in his formative years \u2013 but this 15th west London appearance came at an entirely different stage of his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No sooner has the \u00a398million Inter Milan recruit come back to the Bridge than he has seized talismanic Chelsea status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea had to work for their win, appearing ring rusty in some areas after the international break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saul Niguez endured a forgettable debut, hooked at half-time after ceding possession once too often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Atletico Madrid loanee never hit the Premier League tempo, but will doubtless find rhythm in the coming weeks given his quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ezri Konsa needed the crossbar to save his blushes when he deflected a Chelsea corner onto his own woodwork from the off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saul struggled to reach the pace of the game, but his measured risk of a pass to Kovacic set in motion the break for Lukaku\u2019s goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spaniard purposely put Kovacic under pressure and the Croatia midfielder rose to the challenge, skipping away from cover before unleashing a sumptuous curving through-ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukaku needed no second invitation to canter clear, latching onto the pass and skinning the hapless Axel Tuanzebe before slotting the ball home in style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuanzebe allowed himself to be bullied in a pitiful attempt at marking the Belgium star, further underscoring the value of a big-name striker who can live up to the reputation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea could not have everything their own way however, as Villa put the squeeze on the Blues a number of times in the first half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ollie Watkins drew a good save from Edouard Mendy, before spurning another fine opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former Brentford striker cut inside Chelsea\u2019s Senegal goalkeeper only to be denied by Thiago Silva\u2019s lunging block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Saul continued to struggle through several cheap misplaced passes, Mendy then had to produce an impressive double save from Tyrone Mings and Konsa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel wasted no time in making changes, hooking the struggling Saul at the break in favor of Jorginho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea\u2019s aggressive pressing then yielded a quick second after the interval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukaku heaped the pressure on Tuanzebe and Mings, and the England defender\u2019s under-hit back-pass gifted Kovacic a run on goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former Real Madrid midfielder ate up the chance, before dinking a cute finish to put Chelsea in total control at 2-0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lukaku still found time to lash home his second, drilling the ball into the net after Cesar Azpilicueta\u2019s smart inside ball.<\/p>\n

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