Ghana’s Andre Ayew had a fantastic debut for Swansea as they picked up a point at the Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The player was the only one of Garry Monk’s new signings to be selected to start the Premier League season opener and impressed from the outset, even though he was being marked by his former Marseille team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.
Champions Chelsea had gone ahead through Oscar when, just minutes later, the Swans were level. Ayew showed his predatory instinct to slot home after Thibault Courtois made a stunning save to deny Bafetimbi Gomis.
Gary Cahill blocked Ayew’s first effort but the Ghana star was on hand to fire home the rebound.
Sadly for the Swans, they were back behind less than two minutes later as Willian scored a fortunate goal, which ballooned off Federico Fernandez and gave the hosts a 2-1 half time lead.
The game finished 2-2 as Bafetimbi Gomis leveled through a penalty in the pulsating game.
Courtois had a day to forget as he was sent off. The Belgian rushed out to close down Gomis as he chased Jonjo Shelvey’s lofted through ball. But after the French forward knocked it round Courtois, the Belgian keeper dangled his right leg out and tripped Gomis.
He was dismissed as Michael Oliver pointed to the spot.
Andre Ayew made the move from Marseille in a highly-publicized move that saw him become the Swans marquee signing.
On the live Sky Sports coverage of the game, Theirry Henry praised Ayew for his predatory instinct, saying: “He is not a winger, he wants to get in the action.
“He took the goal really well.”
Swansea’s next game is against Newcastle on August 15.
Starting XIs
Swans: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams (C), Taylor, Ki Sung-Yueng, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Ayew, Montero, Gomis.
Subs: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Bartley, Tabanou, Cork, Routledge, Eder.
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Zouma, Ramires, Mikel, Moses, Remy, Falcao
