Connect with us

EPL: Costa on song as Chelsea down Saints

kizinho

Published

on

Follow
NEWS: EPL: Costa on song as Chelsea down Saints [New Naija News] » Naijacrawl
Photo: Naijacrawl
Diego Costas sublime strike sealed Chelseas 2-0 success against Southampton on Sunday as the Blues chalked up a fourth successive Premier League victory.




Costa doubled Chelseas lead with a fine finish from 25 yards after Eden Hazard had put Antonio Contes side ahead early in the first half at St Marys.

Inflicting Southamptons first home league defeat since February gave Chelsea four league wins in a row for the first time since April 2015, when they were on the verge of lifting the title under Jose Mourinho.

While it is too early to predict another Chelsea charge to the title, the Blues have hit a promising vein of form since Conte switched to his preferred system with a three-man defence.

Their win on the south-coast lifted them above Tottenham into fourth place in the table and within one point of leaders Manchester City.

Southampton remain in mid-table after a first defeat in six league games stalled their recent fine run.

Im very happy after this performance. I saw great commitment and great work rate with the ball and without it, Conte said.

For the fourth game we keep a clean-sheet. Its fantastic but its early for us to speak about title contenders. We can improve a lot.

After making a host of changes for the midweek League Cup defeat at West Ham, Conte returned to the line-up that thrashed Manchester United last weekend, which meant captain John Terry was back on the bench.

For the all focus on Terrys omission, it was the presence of Hazard, who didnt start against the Hammers, that proved the most significant team change.

Just seconds after kick-off, the Belgium midfielder underlined his threat with a clever run and cut back on the right side of the penalty area that ended with Costa unable to prod past Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Southampton boss Claude Puel should have been well aware of the need to stifle Hazard after working with the Chelsea star when he was a teenager at French club Lille.

Menace

But if Puel had warned his players, they clearly failed to take note because Hazard was barely opposed as he put Chelsea ahead in the sixth minute.

Allowed to advance unchecked onto a Victor Moses pass, Hazard glided into the same area of the penalty box he had threatened from before, and this time he tricked Steven Davis with an astute cutback before drilling a low shot past Forster.

It was the first time Hazard had scored in three consecutive league games for Chelsea, but Southampton recovered their composure and almost grabbed an equaliser when Dusan Tadics low free-kick was turned away by Thibaut Courtois.

Hazard remained a menace and brought Forster into action with a low shot from the edge of the area.

That was the signal for Chelsea to turn up the heat and Costa should have scored just before half-time when he fired straight at Forster from Nemanja Matics pass.

A sweeping Chelsea move early in the featured eye-catching passes from NGolo Kante and Marcos Alonso and almost brought an own goal from Saints captain Jose Fonte as he stretched to clear from Costa.

Costa wasnt to be denied however and the Spain forward doubled Chelseas lead in the 55th minute.

Taking a short pass from Hazard 25 yards from goal, Costa set his sights and unleashed a majestic shot that curled past Forster into the far corner for his eighth Chelsea goal this season.

Contes team were in complete control now and Costa nearly made it three when he volleyed narrowly wide at the near post before Hazards drive drew a smart stop from Forster.

Charlie Austin thought hed given Southampton a late lifeline when he rifled the ball under Courtois, but his effort was ruled out for offside as Chelseas revamped rearguard secured a fourth successive league clean-sheet.

Click Here To Comment




kizinho
 

Adike Kizito is a top-rated software developer, blogger, sports, and entertainment lover. He is the CEO of these popular websites Naijacrawl.com and Mp3ager.com. He operates his software developing task through Kizzsoft.com,... Read More

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Be first to comment


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Naija News

Aketi: Tinubu pens down emotional tribute to his fearless brother

Piroll

Published

on

NAIJA NEWS: Aketi: Tinubu pens down emotional tribute to his fearless brother [New Naija News] » Naijacrawl
Photo: Naijacrawl
As the Nation is mourning the death of the former Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, the president in a long tribute yesterday pay homage to his fearless political brother.The president writes: It is a difficult task to have to pen a tribute and sing a dirge for a departing soul. It is a more difficult job in our African culture when one is compelled to do so for a younger person. Here I am with the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akered...
Continue Reading

Naija News

FAAN Cracks Down on 'Ghana Must Go' Sacks in Airports

Piroll

Published

on

NAIJA NEWS: FAAN Cracks Down on 'Ghana Must Go' Sacks in Airports [New Naija News] » Naijacrawl
Photo: Naijacrawl
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has implemented a ban on the use of travel sacks commonly referred to as 'Ghana Must Go' by passengers at all airports across the nation. This prohibition, specified for passengers traveling through the country's international airports, aims to address significant challenges faced by airlines and prevent damage to airport conveyor belt systems.A circular issued by FAAN titled 'Re: Prohibition of Usage Of Ghana Must Go...
Continue Reading

Naija News

Soldier gun down a police inspector Adamawa

Piroll

Published

on

NAIJA NEWS: Soldier gun down a police inspector Adamawa [New Naija News] » Naijacrawl
Photo: Naijacrawl
On Tuesday night in Yola, Adamawa State, a group of army officers, traveling in 12 trucks, launched an invasion on the Police Headquarters, resulting in the tragic killing of Inspector Jacob Daniel.Expressing his condemnation of the attack, Commissioner of Police (CP) Afolabi Babatola urged fellow officers to exercise caution and remain vigilant against assaults on security personnel. A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Suleiman Ngur...
Continue Reading

Latest


Download Naijacrawl App today

Fastest way to read on the go

Download the Naijacrawl App.