Papiss Cisse's moments of magic for Newcastle pile more pressure on sorry ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Cissé's second was also a late entry to goal of the season vying with Robin van Persie's volley against Everton, Peter Crouch's volley against Manchester City, Luis Suárez's long-ranger against Norwich City, Hatem Ben Arfa's solo effort against Bolton and Sebastian Coates' strike against QPR. Amongst others.

The only bad element to Cissé's timing was that it came 48 hours after the Premier League closed voting for "best goal" of the 20 seasons.

That would have placed Cissé in august company, including Tony Yeboah's volley against Liverpool, David Beckham's 50-yarder over Wimbledon's Neil Sullivan, Paolo Di Canio's scissors kick against Wimbledon, Thierry Henry's volley past Fabien Barthez and Dennis Bergkamp's bemusing of Nikos

Dabizas and shot past Shay Given. Amongst celebrated others.

Cissé's strike immediately earned a huge audience on YouTube. In truth, footage of the goal deserved a special screening at the Odeon Leicester Square with a red carpet outside and an invited A-list audience inside.

Signed for only £9?million from Freiburg, Cissé dominated last night's show.

The build-up to Newcastle's 19th-minute opener was as good as Cissé's finish. No wonder Alan Pardew celebrated so passionately. No wonder the away bench went crazy. This was the type of precise, fast-moving football that Pardew has drilled and instilled in this Newcastle side, much to the delight of their vociferous support in the corner of the Shed.

The ball was manipulated at speed into the danger area. Davide Santon, the visitors' left-back, darted down the flank, running on to a clever pass from Jonás Gutiérrez. The Argentine's delivery was good, encouraging Santon to advance and pick out Cissé. The Senegal international still had much to do but his response was from the very highest drawer, totally in keeping with a forward in form. Controlling the ball instantly with his right boot, Cissé's left did the rest, rifling an unstoppable shot past Cech.

There is a lithe athleticism to Pardew's players, a pace and tactical discipline that makes them such significant opposition. Newcastle were effectively 4-4-2 with Ben Arfa running at young Ryan Bertrand and Gutiérrez taking on Jose Bosingwa. Cissé and Demba Ba looked to find gaps between Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, who endured an uncomfortable night. The pace and movement of Pardew's front pair was a constant thorn in Chelsea's side.

Chelsea rallied, briefly reviving memories of their strong start when Fernando Torres really menaced Newcastle's defence. After Cissé's goal, Torres showed again, whipping in a great cross met by Florent Malouda. The Frenchman's header flew well wide, eliciting sighs from the Chelsea faithful. Raul Meireles lifted in a corner but Ivanovic headed over.

Newcastle finished the half the better. Ba raced through, too quick for Meireles, too elusive for Ivanovic, but his low shot failed to beat Cech. Ben Arfa curled in the corner but Bertrand cleared. Ben Arfa changed the angle of his ensuing corner, playing it low to Yohan Cabaye, who failed to make significant contact. Fortuitously for Newcastle, the ball carried to Ba, who hit his near namesake. Still Newcastle pressed, Cabaye clipping in a cross that Mike Williamson headed over.

Even with Juan Mata pulling a few strings after the break, Chelsea were still not at the races. The most style seen from somebody with Chelsea connections was their former midfielder, Gus Poyet, the current Brighton & Hove Albion manager, who was presented to the fans at the break, wearing the most elegant coat witnessed here since Jose Mourinho was in town.

Drogba arrived on the hour for Malouda, triggering a huge roar. The ground soon fell to a hush as poor Cheick Tioté fell to earth, sent spinning by an aerial challenge from John Obi Mikel. His forehead cut open, Tioté leant forward but then fell back, and the medics rushed on. For seven minutes, they worked to make Tioté comfortable, putting on a neck brace and then lifting him gently on to a stretcher. As he was carried off, the whole ground broke into sympathetic applause.

When the game resumed, Terry met a Mata corner with a typically powerful header cleared off the line by Santon but then came Cissé, conjuring up some real magic. Pardew had hardly finished leaping about gleefully when he had more good news with Tioté returning to the dugout. Some night.