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Sport

Late goals help Chelsea in comeback win against unlucky Cardiff City

Chelsea
Cardiff (UK), March 31, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Late goals from Cesar Azpilicueta and Ruben Loftus-Cheek helped Chelsea complete a thrilling comeback to beat Cardiff City 2-1 away in the English Premier League (EPL) on Sunday.

With Chelsea heading for an embarrassing defeat against third-bottom Cardiff, their captain Azpilicueta dragged them back into the match with a headed goal that appeared to be offside.

The visitors then completed the fightback when substitute Loftus-Cheek stormed in at the back post to plant a header in the bottom corner.

Maurizo Sarri’s Chelsea stayed sixth in the table with 60 points, level with fifth-placed Arsenal, who have played a game fewer, and a point behind Manchester United in fourth.

Cardiff’s plight looks increasingly bleak as they are now five points adrift of the safety zone with seven games remaining.

Chelsea, who started without talisman Eden Hazard and midfielder N’Golo Kante, struggled to create chances and failed to hit a single shot on target in the first half.

Aron Gunnarsson’s long-throws for striker Oumar Niasse troubled the Chelsea defence for the majority of the match and it was key to Cardiff’s breakthrough just after the interval.

The visitors failed to clear the delivery launched into the box, leaving midfielder Harry Arter to whip the ball back in for Victor Camarasa.

He fired a first-time finish into the top corner.

The hosts had two penalty kick appeals turned down, with defender Sean Morrison tugged down by Marcos Alonso and Antonio Rudiger in two separate incidents.

“We worked three weeks for this but to get let down by decisions… No major decisions went for us,” Cardiff manager Neil Warnock said.

“It’s the best league in the world but the worst officials. They don’t understand what is at stake. They shouldn’t make mistakes at this level.

“My players feel like they have been kicked in the teeth. We’ve been kicked so many times. I don’t deserve officials like that today. There is no excuse for that, it’s criminal.”

Cardiff next face a trip to second-placed Manchester City on Wednesday, while Chelsea host Brighton and Hove Albion.(Reuters/NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Arsenal revive EPL top-four hopes with win over Chelsea

Arsenal
London, Jan. 19, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal revived their hopes of a top-four finish in the 2018/2019 English Premier League (EPL) by securing a comfortable 2-0 derby win at home to toothless Chelsea on Saturday.

First half goals by Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny gave the Gunners the win which helped to cut the gap between them and Chelsea to three points.

Chelsea’s lack of punch in the final third of the pitch was evident again as they enjoyed 64 percent of possession without ever really threatening to unlock Arsenal’s defence.

Arsenal were far sharper as an attacking force and deserved more than Lacazette’s superb 14th-minute effort and skipper Koscielny’s scruffy goal in a scintillating opening period.

But those goals, and a resolute defensive display after the break, proved enough to give Arsenal only their third home league win against Chelsea in 10 years.

It also meant that they moved back into fifth place on goal difference with 44 points, three behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

“Today we needed to win. We made a mistake last week (at West Ham). So, today’s game was a six-pointer,” Koscielny said.

“If we lose we will be nine points (off Chelsea) and if we win the gap will be just three points.’’

When the ball was played in Koscielny was unmarked but he mistimed his header, only for the ball to spin off his shoulder and beyond the reach of Chelsea’s goalkeeper.

Arsenal restricted Chelsea in the second half as the visitors enjoyed the lion’s share of possession without ever opening up Arsenal’s defence.

Not even the introduction of former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, cheered by the home crowd, could liven up Chelsea’s blunt attack.

Chelsea attack has now managed six goals fewer than any other top-six side this season.

The one sour note for Arsenal was the sight of Spanish right back Hector Bellerin leaving the field on a stretcher with what appeared to be a knee injury.(Reuters/NAN)
KIA/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)