LONDON (AFP) - Eden Hazard scored his 100th and 101st Chelsea goals as Maurizio Sarri's men moved back into the Premier League top four by grinding out a 2-1 win at Watford on Wednesday (Dec 26).
Two of the three goals came in first-half stoppage time as the Belgian's opener was quickly cancelled out by Roberto Pereyra's spectacular strike.
However, Hazard made sure he was the match-winner as he was brought down by Ben Foster and then converted the resulting spot-kick early in the second half to move Chelsea two points ahead of Arsenal in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Despite fuming at Chelsea's lack of focus in losing at Stamford Bridge for the first time in charge of the Blues to Leicester on Saturday, Sarri named the same starting line-up with Hazard again serving as the focal point of the attack ahead of Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata.
Hazard had to wait for his chances to come, but showed why Sarri persists with him through the middle as he coolly rounded Foster to give Chelsea the lead.
Until that point, Willian had the visitors' only clear chance when he also rounded the 'keeper but could only strike the post from a narrow angle.
And Watford will believe they were well worthy of their equaliser just a minute after falling behind.
Jose Holebas's corner perfectly picked out Pereyra on the edge of the Chelsea box and the Argentine connected sweetly on the volley to find the bottom corner.
The hosts had claims for a penalty waved away when Gerard Deulofeu tumbled under a shoulder barge from David Luiz, but there was no controversy when at the other end moments later Hazard was hauled down by Foster.
Hazard picked himself up to dispatch the penalty confidently and by the end Chelsea's margin of victory should have been greater.
Willian and N'Golo Kante drilled low shots inches wide and Foster had to race back to his goal after going forward for a late Watford corner to deny Hazard his hat-trick with the last action of the game.
LONDON: Brighton moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Derby on Saturday. Chris Hughton's side have been sucked into relegation danger in the Premier League after six games without a win. But
Brighton edge into FA Cup quarter-finals | New Straits Times
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR out the Video assistant referee (VAR) system did not work and the match was interrupted during the 2nd leg of CAF champion league
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR
Mesut Ozil will return to the Arsenal squad for Saturday's Premier League visit of Burnley, with manager Unai Emery saying he believes the midfielder has a future at the Emirates Stadium.
Unai Emery says Mesut Ozil has a future at Arsenal | Football
Hamilton foiled again in opener. Lewis Hamilton, second in Melbourne for the fourth straight year, spraying champagne on winner and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. The Briton's frustrating run
Hamilton foiled again in opener - theworldnews.net
Valencia eased into the semi-finals of the Europa League for the first time in five years with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to fellow Spanish side Villarreal in heavy rain on Thursday for a
Valencia stroll into Europa semis with Villarreal win | New
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at Leicester Tweet. Share. View photos. Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Cardiff City - King Power Stadium, Leicester
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at
Manchester City will return to China this year for the first time since their ill-fated visit of 2016, when a game with cross-town rivals United was called off at the last minute. The first overseas Manchester derby was cancelled just hours before kick-off because of an unplayable surface at Beijing's "Bird's Nest" stadium following heavy rain.
Football: Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again, Neymar to get treatment in Brazil. PSG has decided to send Neymar to Brazil for 10 days," it said, adding that the 27-year
Di Maria and Mbappe among the goals as PSG win big again
Mauricio Pochettino accused Tottenham's players of arrogance and complacency after they threw away a lead to lose 2-1 at relegation-threatened Southampton. Spurs, buoyed by the news their new
Pochettino slams 'arrogant' Tottenham - rte.ie
National Football: Baihakki salutes Kadir, Raddy. Baihakki Khaizan (centre) with (from left) Izwan Mahbud, Aleksandar Duric, Daniel Bennett and other players taking the lap of honour after beating
Football: Retired Lions defender Baihakki Khaizan salutes
Football News: Atletico Madrid fell to their heaviest league defeat of the season as they were crushed 3-0 by Espanyol on Saturday, missing the chance to mathematica
Atletico slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tells Manchester United to go all out on the attack against PSG Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has put the smile back on the face of Manchester United since he took over from Jose Mourinho.
United will attack Spurs, vows Lingard - sportsmax.tv
0 comments:
Post a Comment