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Torres scores and is sent off in Chelsea win

LONDON — Fernando Torres added another chapter to his turbulent Chelsea career on Saturday when he scored only his third goal for the club and then was sent off before halftime in a 4-1 win over Swansea.

The Spain striker, a 50-million pound ($77.3 million) signing from Liverpool in January, doubled his goal tally for the season when he chested down Juan Mata’s pass, turned and shot low into the corner in the 29^th minute to put the home side ahead.

Torres was also involved in the buildup when Ramires made it 2-0 in the 36^th, but was shown a straight red card three minutes later for a diving, two-footed tackle on Mark Gower.

Goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba sealed the win for Chelsea, with Ashley Williams replying for Swansea for the club’s first away goal of the season.

Although Torres did not make full contact with Gower, referee Mike Dean had little choice but to bring out the red card for a dangerous tackle.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas acknowledged it looked ‘a good decision by the referee,’ but said Torres had ‘nothing to apologize for.’

‘The challenge is part of the nature of the game and the referee decided like that,’ Villas-Boas said.

It was Torres’ first sending off since 2006 when he was with Atletico Madrid, and followed another up-and-down game in the Premier League defeat against Manchester United last week when the Spaniard scored but also managed to miss an open goal.

Chelsea was left to play with 10 men for the second straight game after defender Alex was dismissed against Fulham in the League Cup in midweek.

Villas-Boas’ team won that game on penalties and the loss of Torres failed to derail Chelsea against Swansea, which performed well but lacked any luck in front of goal.

‘With 10 men we never lost our will to attack and it paid off,’ Villas-Boas said. ‘It was an important win based on the last defeat at Old Trafford and showed good resilience in the end after Wednesday to come back with a good result and a good display.’

After halftime, Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles almost put the ball into his own net, Nathan Dyer’s deflected shot hit the bar and Williams missed the target with a header.

However, Chelsea weathered the danger and Ramires made the game safe in the 76^th from Jose Bosingwa’s pass.

Williams headed in a late consolation for newly-promoted Swansea before substitute Drogba scored his first goal of the season in the 79^th from just inside the penalty area to make it 4-1.

Chelsea stayed third in the standings, while Swansea is 16^th with five points from six games.