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An evolving Chelsea

A controversial goal helped the blues claim maximum points from their opening two games

Roberto di Matteo admitted his Chelsea side remains a workin progress after they needed a controversial Fernando Torres goal to securevictory over newly-promoted Reading. Di Matteo was once again impressed by theperformance of Eden Hazard -- signed this summer for £32 million from Lille. Andhe believes the Belgian is already striking up an effective partnership withfellow playmaker Juan Mata after just two games of the new Premier Leagueseason. Hazard provided two more assists in the 4-2 defeat of Reading to add tothe two he provided at Wigan. That has helped the Blues claim maximum pointsfrom their opening two games-- but the way they allowed Reading back into thegame highlighted the defensive work that still needs to be done as Di Matteoattempts to introduce Hazard, Oscar and Marko Marin into his side. The Chelseamanager said: "The balance was always going to be the key.

"It's all great and everyone wants to see a lot offlair play, but to win games you need a good balance to it. That's going to bethe challenge. "I would like to think we are defensively quite good. Wehad a clean sheet on the first day. Tonight Reading did well to score, butwe've scored six goals in two games. We'll have to try and be solid. That's howyou win more games. We'll certainly look at that." And he added:"There was some good football, a lot of rotation between our players, andwe attacked in numbers, created several chances as well, and the players wereenjoying themselves.

"Hazard had an impact in our team, but I think him andJuan Mata linked up very well. He's finding his feet very quickly, so that ispleasing for us." Hazard won the penalty that allowed Frank Lampard toopen the scoring but reading replied through Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Guthriebefore Gary Cahill brought Chelsea back level. Then Torres scored from anoffside position nine minutes from time and Branislav Ivanovic made it fourwhen Reading keeper Adam Federici went up for a late header.

Reading manager Brian McDermott said: "I'm gutted thelinesman's got that decision wrong on the third goal. "He was offside andit was not a good night for him. It's not been a good night for me, either. Ijust said to him he'd got it wrong.

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The (money) games begin

Emotions run high as clubs vie to build momentum in the English Premier League

The International Herald Tribune/For The Goan
Published Aug 23, 2012, 2:25 PM IST
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The (money) games begin

The English Premier League had two hugely defining momentslast season, and each brought a reaction in the days leading up to the start ofthe new campaign last weekend. One was the night in March when Fabrice Muamba,an energetic midfield player for the Bolton Wanderers, suffered heart failureduring a game at Tottenham in London. He was dead when emergency medicalpersonnel, including a cardiac specialist, reached him, and clinically dead for78 minutes. But through the wonders…

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