After a questionable performance against Cardiff at the weekend, Chelsea silenced their critics with the 3-0 thumping of Brighton at Stamford Bridge. Goals from Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek sealed the three points for Maurizio Sarri’s side against a poor Brighton team.
The hosts dominated possession in the early stages of the game but failed to create anything meaningful in the final third. Young Callum Hudson-Odoi in his rare start had the first chance of the game where his brilliant strike after cutting in from the right wing was deflected wide off the post.
The Blues started to raise their tempo with Hazard and Emerson causing all sorts of problems to the visitors on the left wing. Brighton had the next chance of the game after a brilliant cross-field ball found Solly March inside the box but his volley rattled the side netting.
Eden Hazard remained the main threat for the Blues as he took matters into his own hand with his solo driving runs into the box. Cesar Azpilicueta was the next Chelsea player to have a chance as he headed over a brilliant cross from Hudson-Odoi.
The teenager continued to trouble Brighton from the right flank as his cross was met by Olivier Giroud who gave Chelsea a deserved lead in the 38th minute. The Blues went in at the break with a 1-0 lead and were clearly the better side.
The visitors started off the second half brightly but failed to trouble Kepa Arrizzabalaga by any means. Hudson-Odoi was involved again after a brilliant ball from Jorginho was headed in the palms of Ryan from 7 yards out.
However, Chelsea did not take long to double the lead after Eden Hazard’s brilliant shot from the edge of the box beat Ryan into the back of the net. Chelsea were cruising at this stage and Brighton had no answers.
After a little over two minutes following Hazard’s goal, Ruben Loftus-Cheek did one better as he buried the ball beyond Ryan from 20 yards out. The third goal really killed the game off as the visitors’ heads were well and truly down.
Brighton’s first chance of the second half came in the 80th minute as Bernardo’s shot after a corner was too close to Kepa who did what he had to do to keep the ball out.
The visitors had a great chance to get a consolation goal after Dunk’s brilliant ball over the top was hit wide by Knockaert. That turned out to be the last meaningful action of the game as Chelsea finished as comfortable winners on the night.
The win takes the Blues above Manchester United to 5th place, just a point behind 3rd-placed Tottenham who also picked up a win on the night.
Here’s how a few delighted Chelsea supporters reacted after the game:
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