07/08/1999  Sunderland 0 Chelsea 4 

Chelsea wasted no time in setting the benchmark for this 
season's title race as they pummelled Premiership newcomers 
Sunderland into submission at Stamford Bridge with an ominous 
display of attacking flair.

The Blues may have lost their two previous opening fixtures 
of the season - both of them against Coventry.

But they were in simply inspired form against Sunderland as 
they displayed the immense gap which exists between the top 
and bottom of the Premiership.

The only minor concern for boss Gianluca Vialli was the two 
glaring misses by record £10million signing Chris Sutton. By 
the end, though, they were - thankfully for the centre-forward 
- a faint memory compared to the inventiveness of his 
team-mates.

The man of the match was midfielder Gustavo Poyet, whose 
double strike was completed by a memorable volley to seal 
victory in a totally one-sided encounter.

However, he was ably supported by Sunderland's chief 
tormentor, fellow goalscorer Gianfranco Zola, and new signing 
Didier Deschamps, while substitute Tore Andre Flo hit 
Chelsea's other goal.

Sunderland may have experienced one of their most difficult 
matches of the season, without new signings Stefan Schwarz, 
John Oster and Thomas Helmer.

But on this showing at least they served notice that they 
face yet another perilous struggle against relegation this 
season.

In contrast, Chelsea only raised the expectations of their 
fans, who believe that this is their best ever chance of 
lifting the title since their only other success way back in 
1955.

Vialli's side certainly did not disappoint them in a 
dominant first-half display as, time after time, they carved 
apart Sunderland's defence with intelligent movement, 
interchanging of positions and quick one-touch passing.

Highly rated goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen was all that stood 
between the Blues and an early goal as he twice denied Poyet 
and tipped a free-kick by Zola over the bar.

The opener was inevitable, though, as the pressure rained 
down on the young Dane's goal, and he could do nothing to keep 
out Poyet's header as the Uruguay international rose high to 
head home Dennis Wise's corner on 20 minutes.

In contrast, Sunderland contented themselves by pumping 
hopeful high-balls towards the head of Niall Quin who was ably 
marshalled by Frank Leboeuf and Marcel Desailly.

In front of the two Frenchmen, fellow World Cup winner 
Deschamps was fitting seamlessly into the Chelsea side in a 
near faultless, characteristically understated display.

It was just a matter of time before the floodgates opened 
once more, this time Zola capitalising on a through ball from 
Poyet to toy with Sunderland new signing Steve Bould before 
picking his spot just inside the far post.

The visitors' attempts to play an offside trap were proving 
suicidal as they managed to let Sutton through on goal twice 
in the minutes before the half-time break.

On both occasions, the centre-forward found himself yards 
clear of the nearest defender but first he wastefully struck 
his shot wide of the upright and then his embarrassment was 
more than doubled as he fell flat on his backside.

He was eventually replaced with 17 minutes left by Flo, 
just moments after striking a long-range effort narrowly wide, 
but by then Dan Petrescu had at least joined him in missing a 
clear-cut opening.

The Romanian international, who had earlier hit the near 
post after cutting inside from the right flank, found himself 
with the goal at his mercy - as the referee's assistant again 
failed to raise his flag - only to scuff his shot wide of the 
target.

Sunderland had at least managed to make a match of it but 
were never quite able to breach Ed De Goey's goal, as the 
goalkeeper saved from last season's leading scorer, Kevin 
Phillips, as well as Quinn.

They were duly punished when Chelsea responded by doubling 
their advantage in a vintage three-minute spell in the closing 
stages.

First Petrescu played a one-two with Zola before crossing 
for the unmarked Flo to head home just a couple of minutes 
after coming on as substitute.

Then Poyet scored the goal of the game and a certain 
contender for goal of the month as he capitalised on Zola's 
magical vision by thundering home a first-time volley after 
the Italian had chipped the ball into his path.

There was still enough time for Flo to head just wide and 
for Sorensen to make an inspired diving save to deny 
substitute Roberto Di Matteo, but Chelsea had done more than 
enough to warrant their position as many observers' tip for 
the title.

The only consolation for Sunderland was that this defeat 
was at least less embarrassing than their last visit to 
Stamford Bridge, which resulted in a 6-2 thrashing in March 
1997 - and that season they went straight back down.