Diego Costa finds the net again as Chelsea find form in the second half to dispose of Leicester threat

DIEGO Costa scored for the second match in succession as Chelsea made it two succcessive EPL wins with a 2-0 victory at home over Leicester City.

Chelsea's Diego Costa, left, celebrates his goal against Leicester City with teammates during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge, London, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

DIEGO Costa scored for the second match in succession as Chelsea made it two Premier League wins from two matches this season with a 2-0 victory at home to newly-promoted Leicester City.

After a goalless first half, and with manager Jose Mourinho growing increasingly agitated on the touchline, Chelsea twice almost took the lead at the start of the second period.

Oscar hit the far post with a curling shot from the right before Branislav Ivanovic’s header was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel, son of former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter.

Diego Costa proved deadly again when presented with a half chance.

Leicester, who held Everton to a 2-2 draw last week, then had a chance of their own when David Nugent burst clear only for the Foxes striker to be denied by Thibault Courtois, again preferred by Jose Mourinho to Petr Cech, when one-on-one with the keeper.

But $60 million Spain striker Costa, who scored in last weekend’s 3-1 win at Burnley, marked his home debut by turning in Ivanovic’s cross in the 63rd minute.

Chelsea then doubled their lead when Eden Hazard’s 77th-minute shot beat Schmeichel after deflecting off Leicester defender Wes Morgan.

“We didn’t play good in the first half,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said.

“Leicester came with great defensive intensity, trying to scare us in counter-attack and we were a bit slow - slow in moving the ball and slow thinking and we needed to change and we did that.

“I don’t forget they had a good chance with the result 0-0 but we had so many chances, so many opportunities to score obviously we deserved the victory.”

The manager also paid tribute to Courtois’s excellent second-half save, saying it was crucial.

“That’s what Petr did so many times in this club year after year, so it’s nothing new for us,” said Mouringho.

“It’s important at a big club to have the kind of goalkeeper who’s almost sleeping during the match, and suddenly in the right moment he says ‘yes, I’m here’.

Leicester player can’t believe David Nugent’s miss.

“Thibaut did this, the same way Petr did so many times for us.”

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson was left to rue Nugent’s squandered opportunity and some first half profligacy from Algerian wingee Riyad Mahrez.

If Mahrez had shown more composure on the three occasions he found himself clear on the right of the Chelsea penalty area, Leicetser might have ended the half in front.

“We’re disappointed ... I thought we played exceptionally well in the first half but it’s about taking your chances when you get them,” Pearson added.

I think today we have put them under quite a bit of pressure and even when they started to take a bit of control in the second half, we still had our moments. There are positives to take from today, certainly.”

Originally published as Diego Costa finds the net again as Chelsea find form in the second half to dispose of Leicester threat