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Chelsea 2-2 Swansea City: Courtois sent off as Blues lose lead twice at home

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Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew scored as Swansea City twice came back from a goal down in earning a draw against 10-man Chelsea on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

Oscar scored for Chelsea, which also got a Federico Fernandez own goal off a Willian cross. The real story for Chelsea is the impending suspension of Thibaut Courtois, who took down Bafetimbi Gomis in the second half to receive a red card.

The Blues play Manchester City next week in a critical encounter.

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Jonjo Shelvey looked especially electric early for Swansea, playing some pinpoint crosses and exhibiting some well-chosen dribbles in the first quarter hour.

Shelvey played in Bafetimbi Gomis for a 15th minute chance that should’ve been a goal, but Gomis took an extra touch that allowed Thibaut Courtois to get a piece of his offering.

Diego Costa had himself a penalty claim denied after being chopped down in the box moments later. Perhaps it was reputation, but a kick was not awarded. Replays seemed to show Fernandez got a piece of the ball with his sliding tackle.

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Chelsea struck first from an odd, untouched free kick. Swans keeper Lukasz Fabianski was prepared for Gary Cahill to touch Oscar’s free kick, but no deflection came and the ball bounced into the goal.

Swans equalized through new signing Andre Ayew, and it took great effort. Courtois stopped Gomis’ header, then Cahill blocked Ayew on the rebound before the former Marseille man swept an equalizer home in the 29th minute.

Less than a minute later, Willian got the ball in space on the left and dribbled toward the 18 before launching a cross that took a turn off his marker, Federico Fernandez, and looped over a helpless Fabianski.

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Gylfi Sigurdsson stung a free kick off the wall early in the second half, setting up a corner kick that found Gomis but not the scoreboard. Swans earned another corner moments later. Fernandez headed over the goal.

Then Gomis made a perfect run to get 1 on 1 with Courtois. The forward touched around Courtois, whose foot came down on Gomis’ knee. Gomis hit the deck and a PK was given, along with a red card.

Asmir Begovic came on for Oscar to face the penalty, and Gomis converted the chance.

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Swans would have their chances.

Gomis tapped in a goal in the 68th minute, but was offside by a step.

Begovic made a diving save on Wayne Routledge in the 73rd minute.

The counter became the ally of both sides, and Chelsea had a few promising looks at earning a winner despite their man disadvantage. No goal would come for either club.

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