|
Post by Football News on Mar 18, 2017 17:46:33 GMT
Stoke 1 - 2 ChelseaChelsea believe the title is coming after Gary Cahill sinks Stoke Home team scorersJonathan Walters 38 Pen Away team scorersda Silva Willian 13 Gary Cahill 87 Gary Cahill’s 87th-minute winner had Antonio Conte swinging in delight on the roof of Chelsea’s bench and the captain mobbed by team-mates in front of a delirious travelling contingent. This was particularly sweet for Cahill as his push on Jonathan Walters allowed the same player to equalise Willian’s opener as the break encroached. Until Cahill’s intervention Chelsea had been heading for two dropped points that would have offered a glimmer of hope to the chasing Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. But this smash-and-grab victory will only sap spirits in north London and east Manchester. Stoke City started brightly, troubling the visitors along their flanks. This had the home crowd urging them on though N’Golo Kanté’s slick midfield act soon had Chelsea threatening via Marcos Alonso and Diego Costa, whose first half featured a running battle with a variety of opponents. Costa went down under a Geoff Cameron challenge perhaps too easily, which caused the midfielder to tell him to find his feet again quickly and Blues fans to reel off a few rounds of “Diego, Diego”. An incident and noise-filled beginning next featured Alonso steaming down his left and when he drew a free-kick Chelsea made the most of the opportunity. This was as soft as goals come. From an acute angle about 30 yards out, Willian struck the ball cleanly but Lee Grant should not have allowed it to squeeze past him at his near right post. He did, though, to cue a Chelsea celebration and some despairing Stoke navel-gazing regarding how, precisely, they were 1-0 behind. On 32 minutes Stoke started a fight-back. Marko Arnautovic collected a free-kick and his cross claimed a corner. From here the contest took a controversial turn. Bruno Martins Indi finished Cameron’s header-on but, after consultation with an assistant, Taylor ruled the strike out for Saido Berahino either pushing César Azpilicueta or for being in an offside position that interfered with play. The next incident was the Stoke goal for which Cahill was culpable. Erik Pieters launched a diagonal free-kick from the left into the area and the defender, for some, reason shoved Walters. Taylor pointed to the spot and that was 1-1. Meanwhile the Costa-versus-Stoke sideshow continued in venomous manner, as a free-kick won by the Brazilian from a Shawcross challenge was followed by Phil Bardsley being shown a yellow card for taking him out. In the second half Costa was relatively becalmed, though he and Martins Indi continued to suggest each might boil over at any moment. After Alonso crashed a free-kick off Grant’s bar, Stoke’s final threat was a late Arnautovic corner that Chelsea dealt with it. Now came Cahill’s winner and the feeling that his side will continue to handle the pressure and claim a fifth Premier League title. When Taylor blew for full time Bardsley had just been sent off, following a second booking, and Conte and his men greeted their fans jubilant singing of “We’re going to win the league” as if they, too, now firmly believe it. Guardian
|
|
|
Post by rugbytoffee on Mar 18, 2017 18:49:30 GMT
The machine keeps rolling on
|
|