EPL 2015 : Hazard goal propels Chelsea win against United

Photo Courtesy : http://www.theguardian.com

The mass of blue supporters at Stamford bridge were delighted as the final whistle blew, and Chelsea won 1-0 against United. Manchester United have certainly come a long way after a disastrous start to this season.
United started off really well. They dominated possession through out the match and maintained a whopping 70% possession. They did get some great chances, but they just couldn’t get it past the strong Chelsea defence or past Courtois. Chelsea, on the other hand, played classic Mourinho style. They defended really well and attacked every United player with the ball. However, United’s passes were good enough to allow them to keep up the possession. Although United were unable to win, they have managed to put up a stellar performance against the league leaders, and that in itself deserves appreciation.

It could’ve been a big day for Falcao. With a strong functioning United team, he desperately needs to prove his worth. No doubt, he was a brilliant player at Atletico. But now, he’s at the EPL and it seems like he’s just not able to adjust. He did have a few good chances now and then today, but he failed to get anything out of it. Within the first 5 minutes of the game, De Gea and few United fans thought Rooney had scored, but his shot went wide and hit the back of the net. He could’ve played it better and that miss proved to be bad for the Reds.

McNair’s surge in the 14th minute, saw him go past 3 Chelsea players and attempt at scoring from the long range. It was blocked the keeper. Post that, there were signs of frustration from Fabreas, possibly due to not getting enough of the ball.

In the 37th minute, luck favoured De Gea. Chelsea broke with speed and the ball was kicked into the area and De Gea looked like he handled the ball outside his area, but the linesman’s view was clearly blocked. A minute later, the first and only goal of the match came off Eden Hazard.

Falcao got easily dispossessed by Terry (which actually was a definite foul) on the halfway line, and Oscar’s back heel put Hazard through on goal, as the immensely talented Hazard made no mistake to shoot it under De Gea.

United looked like they were in control initially, but if it’s one thing Chelsea have proved, it’s that they know exactly how to defend a lead, and they did just that. Falcao did get a chance off a Fellaini knock down right before half time, but a good save from Courtois ensured no damage for Chelsea.

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At half time, Chelsea were up against United by one goal. Van Gaal should be pleased by the way his team performed in the first half. Save the goal, United managed to play head to head against Chelsea. Special mention for Oscar, Hazard and Fabregas as they combined together really well.

Mourinho’s decision to play Zouma turned out to be a good one. Fellaini struggled a lot to get involved with the ball and that is all thanks to Zouma.

In the 53rd minute, Chelsea found an opportunity to score another goal. Drogba’s effort deflected off Smalling, and over De Gea, as Hazard attempted a karate kick style that came off behind the post.

United looked vulnerable then, but they started to get the ball more, and there were close chances by McNair, Rooney, Falcao, but none of then worked. They were saved either by Courtois or the Chelsea defence, or they turned out to be too wide.

United’s best player today was undoubtedly Luke Shaw. He was very quick and displayed admirable pace. He passed the ball like a dream, and was unstoppable.

The above statement was proved in the 78th minute again, as a smooth ball from Shaw found Falcao, but his strike hit the outside of the post. He really should’ve scored that one. United fans are particularly dejected about his lack of form in the EPL, especially after expecting so much from a player of his calibre.

Herrera majorly let United down in the added time. He received a yellow card for diving at a pathetic bid to win a penalty for his team.

At full time, Chelsea won against Manchester United. Mourinho’s tactics and game plan was right on point. United might have dominated possession, but they rarely threatened with the ball. The Reds have certainly improved, but they remain 1 point behind Arsenal at the third position, while Chelsea get further ahead at the very top.

EPL 2015 : Chelsea vs QPR, Fabregas saves the day!

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From the time the game started and till the final whistle was blown, every Chelsea player to touch the ball was booed by the QPR fans. Loftus Road was full of jeers for the neighbours. Chelsea’s formation was a classic Mourinho 4-3-3.

Bobby Zamora started the QPR scoring attempts in the 2nd minute itself, with a chip shot from 30 yards that was blocked by Courtois. Chelsea came really close to scoring twice. Green saved the corner kick and the rebound struck the post and bounced clear. QPR were literally hounding Hazard and had a strong man-to-man marking. Zamora and Austin made it difficult for John Terry and Cahill today. They attacked with force and gelled extremely well together.

Jose Mourinho’s facial expressions in the first half pretty much summed up what he thought of the game. It was indeed a slow start, with both teams playing it safe. The crowd at Loftus Road put more pressure on Chelsea with their taunts and jeers. They seemed to display extra fondness for John Terry. Chelsea just moved the ball along in the QPR box. Both teams played it long whenever they possibly could and tried majorly to get the strikers to put pressure on the defenders. QPR did get a chance to score after Azpilicueta took out Isla.

The Austin/Zamora vs Terry/Cahill tiff was perhaps the only entertaining aspect of the match. Right before half time, Terry mildly touched Austin and the latter threw him onto the floor. A red card seemed very likely given the way the match progressed between the two strikers and the two defenders.

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At half time, the score was still 0-0 and a QPR win did not seem unlikely. The match could’ve gone either way in the second half. Terry and Cahill looked very frustrated with the way things had been going.

Immediately after half time, Philips crossed the ball brilliantly but Zamora was too slow to get there and a good opportunity went wasted. Terry and Austin exchanged words again. In the 55th minute, Ramires was replaced by Oscar, which was a rather unusual change. But then, knowing Mourinho, it’s always the best to expect the unexpected. And that lead to a change in Chelsea’s demeanour. They started playing a lot more attacking and that lead to chaos among QPR.

In the 63rd minute, Courtois magnificently saved a Philips strike. QPR started dominating agai. Philips and Zamora failed to connect yet another chance to score.

Finally in the 87th minute, Hazard fed Fabregas the ball on the edge of the area. Fabregas slid it right through three QPR defenders and straight into the net. It was a good thing that Mourinho did not replace him.

QPR did not get close to equalizing even in the added time and Chelsea won 1-0 at Loftus Road against QPR and stand very strong at the top of the table now.

EPL : Chelsea win 2-1 against Stoke, as Charlie Adam steals the show

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Chelsea beat Stoke City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, and now sits on top of the table with a lead of 7 points.

They started off really brightly and penned Stoke down with their amazing passing and footwork. The first time that Hazard ran at Stoke, he passed to Oscar and that got nudged for a corner. Stoke were unable to clear properly and Remy’s shot flashed the face of Begovic’s goal. Hazard, Willian and Oscar were not in a fixed place, as they appeared wherever they wanted to evade the Stoke midfield. Chelsea were in a great momentum and looked pretty strong, aside from a few misplaced Nemanja Matic passes. Remy had 3 chances of scoring so far. Stoke forayed into Chelsea territory for the first time in the 16th minute, but the Chelsea defenders ensured that there was no damage done. The 23rd minute saw a little bit of Chelsea hand as Stoke tried to fire it back to Courtois. The referee remained unmoved though. Glenn Whelan received a yellow card for a challenge on Oscar. Hazard shone greatly for Chelsea today. With his trademark shot, he had two chances around the 30th minute, but Begovic saved both.

Wollscheid’s move on Fabregas yielded a penalty for Chelsea, which was taken by Hazard and he scored! Although Chelsea deserved the lead, Stoke pretty much handed them that chance on a silver platter. Fabregas was temporarily sidelined, a short while later, because of a blow to the nose.

The 44th minute witnessed the highlight of the match, and perhaps what can be termed as the goal of the season, courtesy Charlie Adam. He scored from 60 yards. While everyone was focused on Hazard lying prone in the Stoke half, Adam welted the ball over the head of an oblivious Courtois. He displayed a stunning sense of skill and scored an absolute beauty and equalized for Stoke.

The match was a little boring though. Chelsea did dominate a great lot of the first half and the first goal eased up their pressure a little bit.

Post half time, Chelsea looked like they were a little anxious to get another goal and seal the game. However, it provided a great opportunity for Stoke to capitalize on that panic. Chelsea tried hard to get through the Stoke defence, but Fabregas’ lay off to Diego Costa was really weak. You could literally hear the tension as there were sighs of frustration across Stamford Bridge. In the 54th minute, Stephen Ireland – already booked for a previous encounter – brought Hazard down in the edge of the area, but the referee gave him another chance. Till the 60th minute, it seemed like Adam’s goal had shaken up Chelsea just a little bit. Also, Costa’s injury started acting up and it is the worst time, since they play Manchester United and Arsenal in the upcoming weeks.

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Chelsea’s second goal came in the 62nd minute, and it was heart-warming to watch a player like Hazard unselfishly pass on the ball to Remy, who knew exactly what to do and simply tapped it in. Jose Mourinho’s reaction was undoubtedly the cutest and funniest, as he took off the goalscorer and wrapped him up in cotton wool.

Charlie Adam received a yellow card in the 66th minute, and there could be no error in judgement for this. He was booked for yelling “FUCK OFF! FUCK OFF! CHEAT!” at the linesman.

Chelsea tried hard to prevent Stoke from pulling out another goal from nowhere. Wollscheid got a yellow card, in the meantime.

Cuadrado had two close chances to score in the 80th minute. Hazard pulled it back for him and his first attempt was blocked by Begovic. He immediately tried for a second time, but Begovic got in the way again.

The four minutes of added time did not see many chances from either side. However, the yellow card received by Peter Crouch for getting Hazard down, was the only highlight.

Chelsea may have won the match at the end of the day, but the show was clearly stolen by the wonder goal from Charlie Adam. It definitely ranks up among the best goals of the Premier League, and there are several comparisons being made between him, and Brazilian legend Pele. Clearly, the best goal of the season, and even John Terry admitted to feeling a little shaken up after that goal.