The dethroning begins: Swansea City earns draw at 10-man Chelsea

For the first time in seven years, the reigning champion was unable to snatch three points in its first fixture of the season.

Chelsea, who entered Saturday having won 10 of its 12 opening-day matches, was confined to a 2-2 draw versus Swansea City at Stamford Bridge in a game that saw Thibaut Courtois receive a straight red card in the 52nd minute after he clipped Bafetimbi Gomis on the edge of his penalty box.

The sending-off completely altered the outcome of the fixture. Chelsea was leading at the time and Oscar, who had opened the scoring earlier with a phenomenal free kick, was forced to exit the pitch as Asmir Begovic replaced Courtois.

Begovic, however, was helpless as Gomis made no mistake from the penalty spot and produced a scoreline that would hold until the final whistle.

While Gomis' name is the one that will appear on the match report, it was Jefferson Montero, the Ecuadorian winger who leaves right-backs for dead, who was Swansea's engine, setting up the Welsh club's opening goal and causing countless problems for Chelsea's backline on the left flank and for Branislav Ivanovic in particular.

Had Montero not suffered an apparent cramp and been substituted in the 71st minute, Swansea could very well have escaped with three points. He was the best player on the pitch by an imperial unit and finished the game with seven crosses, two chances created, and two shots.

Jonjo Shelvey also produced a superb performance, helping Swansea launch its attack from the middle of the pitch.

The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard, and Diego Costa failed to display the form that helped Chelsea capture its fourth Premier League title last season, and the result will only raise concerns among the club's supporters following a preseason in which Jose Mourinho's side failed to win once.

Chelsea will now have a chance to attain its first win of the season on Aug. 16, when the club visits Manchester City, a fixture for which Courtois will be suspended.