Marcos Alonso's double reignited Chelsea's title defence by securing a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday, with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris blundering to enable the Premier League champions to recover from their opening weekend loss.
For Tottenham, it was a gloomy start to its temporary residency at Wembley Stadium after going unbeaten throughout its final season at White Hart Lane before it was demolished to make way for a new venue.
Tottenham had been well placed to salvage a draw when Alonso's first-half free kick was cancelled out by Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi inadvertently heading the ball into his own net in the 82nd minute just after coming off the bench.
But within six minutes Chelsea was back in front and Batshuayi's blushes were spared in the London derby.
Chelsea defender David Luiz intercepted the ball after Victor Wanyama received it from Lloris' throw. Alonso helped to knock the ball along to Pedro Rodriguez on the left flank and he raced forward to receive a return pass in the penalty area. A shot from a tight angle then squirmed under the normally reliable Lloris in the Tottenham goal.
"Frustrated? No," Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. "I am disappointed because I think we deserved more. Our performance was good."
But not good enough. It was Tottenham's seventh loss in 10 matches at the national football stadium, which was also used for the north London club's European matches last season and there was also a visit in the FA Cup semifinals last season when it lost to Chelsea.
"It is not the reason we lost the game," Pochettino said of Wembley, where the pitch is wider than Tottenham's old White Hart Lane home.
Fueled by its formidable home form, Tottenham secured its highest league finish in more than 50 years last season as it was pipped to the title by Chelsea. Last seasons top two now have a win apiece after Tottenham opened the season with a victory over Newcastle last Sunday. Chelsea was left demoralized after it opened its title defence by losing at home to Burnley.
