Norwich City 1 Chelsea 2
Kenedy scored his first Premier League goal for Chelsea as their rejuvenation continued with another victory.
The 20-year-old Brazilian netted after just 39 seconds at Carrow Road, where Diego Costa doubled the lead with a controversial goal on the stroke of half-time.
Kenedy burst in from the left, dodged two challenges and fired into the far corner.
And Bertrand Traore set up Costa, who was in an offside position before lifting the ball over keeper John Ruddy – the striker’s 10th goal in his last 14 matches.
Nathan Redmond pulled a goal back for Norwich midway through the second half when he collected Wes Hoolahan’s fine pass and blasted past keeper Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea remain unbeaten in the league since Guus Hiddink took over and are now up to eighth in the table. They have won nine and lost just one of their 16 matches in all competitions under the Dutchman this season.
The exciting young duo of Kenedy and Traore, who made his first league start for the Blues, were included as part of a shake-up by Hiddink, who dropped Baba Rahman and recalled Nemanja Matic and Oscar.
After Kenedy, who replaced Baba at left-back, scored the opener, Traore might have made it 2-0 had he managed to control Eden Hazard’s pass, but his heavy touch simply nudged the ball into the arms of Ruddy.
Traore made amends by playing a key role in Costa’s goal and he showed plenty of promise before being substituted on the hour mark.
Cameron Jerome missed two glorious chances for the Canaries early in the second half.
Jerome volleyed wide from eight yards out after being found by Gary O’Neil’s cross, and then contrived to volley against the top of the bar after Russell Martin had headed the ball back into the box.
Redmond, on the other hand, finished emphatically before O’Neil went close to equalising when he shot wide.
This post was last modified on 02/03/2016