Football news - Chelsea get past Brighton thanks to early Eden Hazard magic
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ByEurosport
Updated 16/12/2018 at 15:38 GMT
Premier League, Amex Stadium - Brighton & Hove Albion 1 (March 66') Chelsea 2 (Pedro 17', Hazard 33')
Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - December 16, 2018 Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates scoring their second goal with Willian and Pedro
Image credit: Reuters
Chelsea beat Brighton & Hove Albion Albion 2-1 at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, thanks largely to a magical first half performance from Eden Hazard.
For the second consecutive league game, Blues boss Maurizio Sarri started without a recognised striker with Alvaro Morata ruled out through injury and Olivier Giroud named as a substitute.
But with Hazard in such fine form, the visitors still posed a real threat in attack and they raced into a two-goal lead at the break. The Belgian set up Pedro for the opener and then tucked home a goal of his own as Chelsea were two up just after the half hour mark.
His torment of Brighton was only halted when he was forced off with an injury in the second-half.
At that stage the complexion of the game had entirely changed as Chelsea switched off and a resurgent Brighton got back into it thanks to a goal from Solly March.
And the hosts were left incensed when last-man Marcos Alonso only received a yellow card for pulling down March and appearing to deny the Brighton forward a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The home team failed to capitalise on their momentum, however, and with victory fourth-placed Chelsea go back to within two points of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in third. Brighton remain 13th.
TALKING POINT
Hazard shines in absence of recognised striker
With Alvaro Morata injured, it was expected that Olivier Giroud would take his place in attack. Instead, Sarri named the same starting XI that recorded the empathic victory over Manchester City, meaning the Blues operated without a genuine forward. But with Hazard in such fine fettle, who needs a striker? Playing in a free-role, the Belgian was at his sizzling best, registering his ninth assist of the season before bagging his eighth goal of the term, as Chelsea closed the gap on leaders Man City to seven points.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eden Hazard (Chelsea): When he plays at his brilliant best, there is no better player in the Premier League. This was another terrific driving performance from the Belgian. He created problems every time he picked up the ball, racing into dangerous areas with speed and forcing terrified defenders to retreat. Sarri knows how to get the best out of the magician: Hazard has now been involved in more goals this season than the whole of last term (17).
PLAYER RATINGS
Brighton: Ryan 6, Montoya 6, Dunk 7, Balogan 5, Bernardo 6, Stephens 6, Gross 6, Propper 6, Knockaert 7, Murray 6, March 8. Subs: Bissouma 5, Locadia N/A, Andone 6.
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga 6, Azpilicueta 7, Rudiger 6, Luiz 7, Alonso 7, Kante 7, Jorginho 7, Kovacic 6, Willian 7, Hazard 9, Pedro 7. Subs: Barkley 5, Loftus-Cheek 5, Giroud N/A.
KEY MOMENTS
17' - GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Chelsea: Pedro makes the breakthrough! After a prolonged spell of possession, Hazard takes matters into his own hands. A drop of the shoulder opens up space for a shot, but it's blocked. It comes back to him, however, and with a great display of vision he looks up to square it to the back post where Pedro is left with a simple tap-in.
33' - GOAL! Brighton 0-2 Chelsea: The hosts are the makers of their own undoing. Hazard created the first one, now he's on the score-sheet. The finger of blame will be pointed at Balogun who gifted possession straight to Willian. Now he's out of position and the Brazilian threads a through-pass to Hazard. He races towards goal and slots it past Ryan at his near post with aplomb.
63' - OFF THE POST! What a hit, Marcos Alonso! He really catches the ball with a terrific 25 yard shot from the left flank. Ryan is fully-stretched but is beaten all ends up and he can only watch as it cannons off the woodwork.
66' - GOAL! Brighton 1-2 Chelsea: Game on! A lovely diagonal ball is switched to a wide area. Bernardo meets a cross at the back post, heading it across the face of goal for March who side-foots the ball past Kepa.
87' - FLASHPOINT! Brighton are absolutely furious. Is Alonso fortunate only to be booked? He pulls down March who looked odds on to latch onto a terrific through-pass which would have released him behind the Chelsea defence. Alonso was the last man...
KEY STATS
- Eden Hazard has been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season (17 in 16 appearances) than he was in the whole of last season (16 in 34 appearances).
- The Belgian has provided more assists in league competition than any other player in the top five European Leagues in 2018-19 with nine.
- Chelsea have won all seven of their league games against Brighton by an aggregate score of 14-2.
- Brighton are still looking for their first victory over Chelsea in any competition since 1933, when they won 2-1 in the FA Cup third round.
- Kepa Arrizabalaga has not kept consecutive league clean sheets since August 2017 for Athletic Club in La Liga.
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