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Tag Chelsea FC

  • Mar, Tue, 2020
Sport

Chelsea beat Liverpool to reach FA Cup quarter-finals

Chelsea
London, March 3, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Chelsea completed a torrid few days for Liverpool as goals by Willian and Ross Barkley sealed a 2-0 victory to send them through to the FA Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Liverpool’s 44-match unbeaten streak in the English Premier League (EPL) ended in stunning fashion with a 3-0 defeat at Watford on Saturday and they were rocked again at Stamford Bridge.

Goalkeeper Adrian allowed Willian’s powerful shot to creep past him in the 13th minute and former Everton midfielder Barkley drove home Chelsea’s second goal just past the hour mark.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp made seven changes to the side which lost to Watford but he still fielded an experienced line-up, compared to the team he fielded against Shrewsbury Town.

Sadio Mane wasted several early chances and Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, back for the first time since being dropped in January, made a remarkable triple save before half-time.

But Chelsea, with 18-year-old Billy Gilmour impressive in midfield, were merited winners as they moved through.

For Liverpool, a season of utter dominance has suddenly hit a slump with three defeats in four games in all competitions.

They lost to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie before the weekend defeat by Watford.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Bournemouth stun Chelsea 1-0 away to end losing streak

Dan Gosling’s goal was his first for Bournemouth this season (Getty Image)

Shock

London, Dec. 14, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Defiant Bournemouth stole all three points with a late goal from Dan Gosling at Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, ending a five-match losing streak with a 1-0 win.

Gosling looped his shot over goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s head in the 84th minute and defender, Cesar Azpilicueta, seemed to have hooked it out.

But after a lengthy wait for a VAR offside check referee, Graham Scott, awarded the goal.

Chelsea looked off the pace despite enjoying more than 60 per cent possession on a chilly afternoon in southwest London.

Although they buzzed around the Bournemouth area and created chances for Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic, Frank Lampard’s side could not find a decisive shot.

Bournemouth keeper Aaron Ramsdale pulled off fine saves in each half from Mount and full-back Emerson to keep the south coast side in the game.

It was the fourth defeat in five Premier League games for Chelsea, who sit fourth in the table.

Lampard suggested during the week that the club would be looking for a striker in the January transfer window. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Sport

EPL: Chelsea go second with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace

Chelsea

London, Nov. 9, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Second-half strikes by Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic handed Chelsea a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and a sixth consecutive Premier League victor on Saturday.

The victory also pushed the Blues up to second in the standings.

Abraham broke Palace’s resolute defensive line in the 52nd minute after a first-touch pass from Brazilian midfielder Willian and the centre-forward sidefooted past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

Pulisic capped a fine display on the wing by making it 2-0 in the 79th minute when a shot by substitute Michy Batshuayi was blocked by former Chelsea defender Gary Cahill.

The ball the then looped into the air invitingly for the American to head home.

Chelsea coach Frank Lampard fielded the Londoners’ youngest-ever Premier League starting 11, giving 19-year-old defender Reece James his first start in the league as he replaced Cesar Azpilicueta.

The return of N’Golo Kante after a groin injury, in for Jorginho who was suspended, seemed to give Chelsea a stiffer spine in midfield as they recorded only their third clean sheet of the season.

With the win, Chelsea leapfrogged Manchester City and Leicester City, who have yet to play this weekend, into second spot in the table.

They are five points behind leaders Liverpool, who have also a played a game less. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Felix Ajide

 

Sport

Chelsea’s Abraham hits hat-trick in 5-2 win over Wolves

Hat-trick

Wolverhampton (UK), Sept. 14, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) In-form Chelsea striker, Tammy Abraham scored a superb hat-trick as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-2 in their Premier League clash on Saturday.

Visiting Chelsea thus spoiled the home side’s celebration of the 130th anniversary of their Molineux Stadium.

The game bursted into life just past the half-hour mark when Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori’s dipping drive from outside the box wrong-footed Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio and flew into the net.

Abraham then struck his first goal three minutes later, making the most of the advantage granted by referee Graham Scott to take a touch and swivel before firing home.
He headed a second before halftime to send his side into the break 3-0 up.

The Chelsea academy product, who has spent spells on loan at Bristol City, Swansea City and Aston Villa, completed his hat-trick 11 minutes into the second half before limping off.

He was replaced by Michy Batshuayi in the 77th minute.

Wolves pulled a goal back in the 69th when Romain Saiss’s header went in off Abraham for an own goal and striker Patrick Cutrone bundled home another in the 85th.
But Mason Mount fired home Chelsea’s fifth to complete the rout five minutes after Cutrone’s goal.

Chelsea, who host Liverpool next week, are up to sixth on eight points while Wolves, who visit Crystal Palace looking for their first win of the season, are 19th on three points. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Maharazu Ahmed

Sport

Lampard earns first win as Chelsea boss at Norwich City

Lampard earns first win as Chelsea boss at Norwich City

Norwich (England), Aug. 24, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Frank Lampard celebrated his first victory as Chelsea manager with Tammy Abraham’s double, inspiring their 3-2 win over Norwich City in a pulsating Premier League encounter at Carrow Road on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Abraham struck on the half-volley in the third minute and, after a see-saw contest in which Norwich twice fought back from a goal down, he proved the match-winner with another superb strike in the 68th minute.

Teemu Pukki continued his dazzling start to the season by netting a league-leading fifth goal for the Canaries.

However, it was to prove in vain as the victory provided much-needed relief for Lampard, one of Chelsea’s greatest players.

Lampard finally got off the mark at the fourth attempt after a loss at Manchester United, defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup and a draw with Leicester City.

Chelsea took the lead early when an overlapping Cesar Azpilicueta drifted a perfect cross from the right to the feet of the unmarked Abraham, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Norwich struck back quickly, with Emiliano Buendia finding Pukki, who squared from near the left post for 21-year-old midfielder Todd Cantwell to score from close range.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount made it 2-1 with a fine 17th-minute goal.

But 13 minutes later, Buendia’s fine through ball put in the prolific Finn Pukki, who beat Kepa Arrizabalaga from a tight angle despite the Chelsea keeper getting a hand to the ball.

Chelsea looked more assured after the break and their pressure told.

Mateo Kovacic found Abraham, who rounded two Norwich defenders before firing home the winner from outside the box. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Silas Nwoha

Sport

Ndidi stars as Leicester City hold Chelsea 1-1 in Lampard’s first home match

EPL

London, Aug. 18, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Chelsea manager Frank Lampard had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Leicester City in his first home match in charge on Sunday.

A second-half header by Wilfred Ndidi cancelled out Mason Mount’s early goal on Lampard’s home debut.

Chelsea raced into a quick lead when the 20-year-old player stole the ball from a dallying Ndidi and left Kasper Schmeichel with no chance with his shot in the seventh minute.

The goal capped an opening onslaught by the new-look Blues who were roared on by the home fans excited at the return of Chelsea’s all-time top scorer Lampard as manager.

But Leicester grew into the game and equalised in the 67th minute when Ndidi atoned for his first-half error by heading home a James Maddison corner.

Maddison, Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans spurned chances to win it for Leicester late on. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Donald Ugwu

Sport

Liverpool win Super Cup after penalty shootout

Liverpool win Super Cup after penalty shootout

 

Liverpool

Istanbul (Turkey), Aug. 14, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Champions League winners Liverpool won the Super Cup 5-4 on penalties against Chelsea after the game ended 2-2 following extra-time on Wednesday.

With the first nine penalties all converted, Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham saw his effort blocked by the legs of Liverpool keeper Adrian to hand victory to Juergen Klopp’s side.

Chelsea went ahead in the 36th minute when N’Golo Kante drove from midfield and found Christian Pulisic, who turned inside and delivered the perfect through ball for Olivier Giroud to confidently slot home.

American Pulisic then beat Adrian with a fine shot after a swift run down the flank but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Liverpool manager Klopp introduced Brazilian Roberto Firmino at the break and he had an instant impact.

He poked the ball past the advancing Kepa Arrizabalaga and Sadio Mane tapped into the unguarded goal to make it 1-1 in the 49th minute.

Arrizabalaga then produced a superb double save in the 75th minute to deny Mohamed Salah’s deflected low drive.

And the Spanish keeper did superbly to get back up and push Virgil van Dijk’s follow up against the bar.

With the teams level after 90 minutes the game went into extra-time, past midnight local time, and Liverpool struck after just five minutes with Mane driving home after an excellent exchange with Firmino.

But six minutes later, Chelsea were back on level terms with a Jorginho penalty after Abraham was brought down in the box by Liverpool keeper Adrian, setting up the shootout. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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Sport

Chelsea beat Slavia 4-3 to book Europa League last-four place

Chelsea
London, April 18, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Chelsea reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals by beating Slavia Prague 4-3, helped by a Pedro double on Thursday.

Pedro led Chlesea’s first half onslaught before withstanding the Czech’s comeback bid after the break in a pulsating game.

The London side were cruising 4-1 at half-time but Slavia Prague added two goals early in the second period.

Two powerful strikes by Petr Sevcik, narrowed the aggregate score to 5-3.

The London side had won the first leg 1-0.

Sevcik spurned a chance to cut the deficit further before Chelsea held on to see out the win and set up a semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

The German side won 2-0 against Benfica to go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes, starting with Pedro chipping goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar.

The Spain winger hit the post four minutes later only for the ball to rebound into the face of Simon Deli and into the net for an own goal.

Pedro carved out Chelsea’s third when he squared for a simple finish by Olivier Giroud and the scurrying Spaniard claimed Chelsea’s fourth goal in the 27th minute.

A minute earlier, Slavia’s captain Tomas Soucek had given the boisterous Czech fans something to cheer at Stamford Bridge when he powered in a header from a corner kick.

A Chelsea triumph in the UEFA Europa League, a trophy they won in 2013, would provide a way back into the UEFA Champions League.

This will be if they finish outside the English Premier League (EPL) top four this season.

They currently sit fifth on the league table.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Mane, Salah give Liverpool vital win against Chelsea

Win

Liverpool (UK), April 14, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) A spectacular strike from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool maintain their two point lead over Manchester City in the Premier League title race with a crucial 2-0 win over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.

City won 3-1 at Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday meaning Liverpool have 85 points with four games to go and City are on 83 with an additional match to play.

But with Pep Guardiola’s side having to face Tottenham and Manchester United in the next 10 days and Liverpool having no more matches against top six teams, Juergen Klopp’s side have a glorious chance to end their club’s 29 year wait for a domestic league title.

After a fascinatingly even first half, Liverpool turned on the style after the break with a 51st minute header from Sadio Mane and then a long-range screamer from Salah two minutes later blowing Chelsea away.

Although the brilliant Eden Hazard hit the post for the visitors, there was a real determination about the way Liverpool approached the second half.

They closed down across the field and yet still pushing forward in search of a third to totally kill the game.

That did not come but with only lowly Cardiff City, relegated Huddersfield Town, Newcastle United and Wolves remaining as hurdles, this was the biggest obstacle in Liverpool’s run in, cleared with some margin to spare.

“It’s really big,” said Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson.

“It’s another big game we have won. We have to concentrate on ourselves, work hard on training pitch and the focus is on the next game.

“But we are enjoying it and that’s the main thing,” said the England international.

Hazard, playing in a central role, had been a constant threat in the opening half while Liverpool’s cutting edge was not quite there.

Mane went close with a curling effort and a Firmino toe poke forced Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into action.

Chelsea had arguably had the better of the opening half but whatever Klopp said to his team at the break certainly had the desired effect.

The breakthrough came when Salah weaved into the area, putting the Chelsea defence on the back foot and Henderson picked out Mane at the back post with the Senegalese forward confidently heading home.

If that goal brought a feeling of relief, it was pure joy two minutes later when Salah scored a sensational second.

The Egyptian received the ball on the right flank and cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 25 metres out into the far, top corner.

Chelsea responded positively, though, with David Luiz picking out Hazard with a ball over the top.

The Belgian beat the advancing Alisson Becker only to see his shot bounce out off the post.

Moments later, Becker then had to be alert to keep out a Hazard shot from a Willian cross as Chelsea searched in vain for a way back.

But having been warned, Liverpool were alert to the Hazard threat and they could have had a third themselves in the 89th minute with Mane forcing Arrizabalaga into a reflex save.

The jubilant reaction of the crowd at the final whistle, showed the importance of these three points.

The pressure is on City ahead of 10 days which could determine the outcome of this fascinating title race. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Felix Ajide

 

Sport

Late Alonso header gives Chelsea win in Prague

Alonso

Prague, April 11, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Chelsea struck late with a header by defender Marcos Alonso to beat a stubborn Slavia Prague side 1-0 in their Europa League quarter-final, first leg on Thursday.

Spaniard Alonso broke the deadlock for the west London side in the 86th minute when he sneaked behind two defenders to connect with Willian’s cross.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri made seven changes to his lineup from the team that beat West Ham United 2-0 in the Premier League on Monday.

Belgian talisman Eden Hazard had to come off the bench for the last half an hour.

Alonso’s goal gave the Blues a vital away goal as they put behind them bitter memories of the stadium where they lost the 2013 Super Cup to Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout. (Reuters/NAN)

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Edited by Felix Ajide