Chelsea Take Control In Top Four Competition With Comeback Win
22 June, 2020
English Premier League
Result: Aston Villa 1-2 Chelsea
Date: 21 June 2020
Venue: Villa Park
Chelsea rallied from in back of to defeat a good spirited Aston Villa part and moved five points free from Manchester United in fourth i'm all over this Sunday evening.
The Blues welcomed Ruben Loftus-Cheek back again from a long-term injury, with N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Andreas Christensen among the four changes while Villa were unchanged.
The visitors had a shiny start but their first chance found its way to the 21st minute after Mason Mount unleashed a strike from 25-yards that forced Villa shot-stopper Orjan Nyland into fine save.
Frank Lampard's charges came close again to breaking the deadlock on the half-hour tag after Willian worked his magic on the byline to provide a low square move that agonisingly missed all of the on-rushing attackers.
The Blues paid the price for missing those chances two mins before the break after Kortney Hause struck house a fierce low shot in the box from Douglas Luiz's cross at hand Villa the lead.
Chelsea continued to trigger problems in the first stages of the next stanza however they needed a different approach while Lampard made a double change ten minutes inside the second 1 / 2, with Christian Pulisic and Ross Barkley approaching on for Loftus-Cheek and Kovacic.
Pulisic made an immediate impact as he found the equaliser for Chelsea on the hour-mark with a good close-range finish after a good cross from Cesar Azpilicueta on the proper wing.
The Blues took the lead for the very first time in the overall game two minutes later because of a deflected strike from Olivier Giroud in the box from Azpilicueta's cross.
Chelsea were cautious in the trunk in the closing phase but Lampard induced striker Tammy Abraham, who also recovered from a good hamstring injury, within the last ten mins instead of Giroud for fresh legs upfront.
Willian almost put the game beyond doubt for the guests with a 25-lawn strike that was dipping towards the crossbar limited to Nyland to tip his work over the bar.
Villa had a good glorious prospect to snatch a good last-gasp equaliser after Jota went clear on goal from an position and athough his low shot defeat Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga it all missed the bottom corner by a whisker, due to Chelsea held on for the gain.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za