Chelsea have saved their ‘horrible week’ on the horn. He had been losing in the Premier League to Manchester City (0-1) and in the Champions League against Juventus (1-0) … and Southampton was choking him. However, the expulsion of Ward-Prowse ‘paves the way’. The goals of Chalobah (9 ‘), Timo Werner (84’) and Chilwell (89 ‘) allow the’ blues’ to defeat the ‘Saints’ and lay down leaders.
Thomas Tuchel, who could not count on Kant (COVID-19), James and Pulisic (injured), surprised leaving Jorginho, Mount, Havertz, and Marcos Alonso, recently summoned by Luis Enrique, on the bench. Azpilicueta started and without playing Kepa and Sal Guez stayed once again. The former player from Atltico has not had any minutes in the league – he was substituted at half-time – since his debut against Aston Villa.
The party, to ‘open grave’, like almost all of Hasenhttl’s Southampton, quickly turned to face the ‘blues’. At 9 ‘they were already winning 1-0. Trevoh Chalobah riveted a skull thrown by Chilwell and styled by Loftus-Cheek over the line.
The youth squad, defender, has become an unexpected ‘weapon’. Only Lukaku (3) has scored more goals than Chalobah (2) so far from Premier to Chelsea.
The party went from one area to another. Amag with drawing Ward-Prowse at 21 ‘with a shot that skimmed the post. Loftus-Cheek responded with a shot that ‘licked’ the squad at 22 ‘and Chilwell with a shot that saved goalkeeper McCarthy at point-blank at 26’. Southampton’s reaction came with a header that Walcott failed to connect at the goal (33 ‘).
Two goals disallowed
Chelsea scored, up to two times, before the break … but neither goal rose to the scoreboard. Lukaku received from Rdiger and scored with a shot from the back in the 36th minute.. However, he was off-side.
Werner also scored with a header in the 41st minute, but the former RB Leipzig is ‘denied’. His goal was invalidated by a ‘little fault’ from Azpilicueta at the origin of the play.
Penalty on Livramento
One of the attractions of the duel was seeing Tino Livramento in action. The former ‘Chelsea Academy Best Player’ in 2020-21 traded Chelsea at Southampton in the summer. Well, the former ‘blue’ forced a 1-1 penalty at 61 ‘after breaking Chilwell.
James Ward-Prowse scored a penalty and ended 270 minutes without scoring in Premier -since August- of Southampton. Curiously, the last nine league goals of the ‘Saints’ captain have been from a free kick (4) or from a penalty (5).
From hero to ‘villain’
Ward-Prowse’s joy was short-lived. McCarthy stopped Werner from scoring at pleasure in the 72nd minute. However, the expulsion of the aforementioned Ward-Prowse for a reckless entry on Jorginho – it was reviewed by the VAR – gave Chelsea wings.
The 2-1 play, in 84 ‘, was born from the feet of Barkley, who entered through Loftus-Cheek and seems to have overtaken Sal in the rotation. The ex of the Everton served a great change of game so that Azpilicueta, arriving from second line, served the ‘pass of the death’ towards Werner. This time, the German did not forgive.
The ‘carambola’ of 3-1
Chelsea ended up putting land in the middle in 90 ‘with a’ three cushion billiards’ action. A nice triangulation between Mount and Azpilicueta ended in Lukaku’s shot to the post, the subsequent shot from ‘Azpi’ also crashed off the post and finally it was Chilwell who scored … not without suspense. McCarthy stopped his shot, but ‘goal technology’ decreed that the ball had already entered.
The victory, suffered, over Southampton, allows to the ‘blues’ lay down provisional leaders with 16 points, two more than Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton.
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