DIEGO COSTA scored twice as Chelsea continued its winning start to the Premier League season with a remarkable 6-3 victory over Everton in a thrilling clash Saturday.

    Meanwhile, Manchester City crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat against Stoke as Senegal striker Mame Biram Diouf stunned the Premier League champion. Manuel Pellegrini’s team was beaten on home turf for the first time in the league since February thanks to Diouf’s fine solo run and a poor piece of goalkeeping from City’s Joe Hart in the second half at Eastlands.

    Brazil-born Spain striker Costa cost Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho 32 million pounds (US$53.1 million) when he joined from Atletico Madrid in the close season and he provided a further illustration of his worth at Goodison Park.

    The 25-year-old started and finished the scoring on an extraordinary evening on Merseyside, taking his tally to four goals in three games since his arrival at the club.

    Everton’s own big-money striker Romelu Lukaku, a 28-million-pound acquisition from Chelsea, lined up against his old club, with another Chelsea old boy, Samuel Eto’o, starting the game on the bench.

    Mourinho included Costa in his starting XI after he passed a late fitness test, having not trained in the latter half of the week due to a hamstring complaint.

    And the striker showed no ill effects to give Chelsea the lead after 36 seconds when he latched onto a through-ball from Cesc Fabregas.

    Costa let fly with a low angled shot that Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard got a foot to but was unable to prevent going into the net.

    Chelsea added a second goal in the third minute when Everton’s appeals for offside were ignored by the officials.

    Neat interplay between Costa and Brazil midfielder Ramires allowed the latter to slip the ball into Branislav Ivanovic, who had ghosted in behind the Everton defense and clinically dispatched a low shot past Howard.

    American goalkeeper Howard was fortunate not to be punished by referee Jon Moss shortly afterwards when he handled outside the area as Eden Hazard chased down a long ball from Fabregas.

    Everton improved as the first half wore on. Lukaku rattled the crossbar with a header from a corner and Sylvain Distin bundled the ball into the net, but the assistant referee had already correctly raised his flag for offside.

    Everton pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time when Seamus Coleman was released down the right flank and crossed for Kevin Mirallas, who got in front of Gary Cahill to glance a superb header into the top-left corner.

    The goal ensured Chelsea was unable to rest on its laurels as a thrilling second half ensued.

    Chelsea added a third in the 67th minute when Hazard cut in from the left and saw his low cross-shot inadvertently diverted past Howard at the near post by the sliding Coleman for an own goal.

    (SD-Agencies)