AFC Bournemouth 1 - 4 ChelseaEden Hazard ends league goal drought as Chelsea beat Bournemouth
Home team scorerTommy Elphick 36
Away team scorersRodriguez Pedro 5
Eden Hazard 34
da Silva Willian 71
Eden Hazard 90 +0:19
There was to be no Bournemouth double over Chelsea. In December Eddie Howe’s side produced one of the results of the season at Stamford Bridge during the last days of José Mourinho’s reign but this was a performance more like the champions of old, led by Cesc Fábregas and Eden Hazard.
Fábregas was superb, elaborate flicks combined with clinical passing to cut Bournemouth open time and again. Howe’s men showed attacking intent themselves but, in doing so, ceded space in their own half, which Chelsea exploited. Pedro opened the scoring before Hazard and Willian also capitalised on Fábregas assists, rendering Tommy Elphick’s header immaterial.
Hazard added another late on and these were his first Premier League goals since May 2015. Some drought for last season’s PFA Player of the Year but, though there were still signs of rust after five games out, this was a vastly improved display compared to some this season.
Yet it was Fábregas who ran the show. Guus Hiddink, the interim Chelsea coach, said of the Spaniard: “He was enjoying it very much, he’s one of the few players who has this vision. He knows when he’s on the ball that he can execute what he is thinking and creating, we know when he’s on the ball that we need players running.
“There were some decent games but this one was one of his best. I like it when they get the camera and attention but these players can play like that when there is good balance around him. We made some little positional changes at half-time and from there on I think we controlled and were very dominant. It was good to see the players enjoying playing and looking for the attack.”
Chelsea play Tottenham next and the away fans voiced their desire to end Spurs’ tilt at the league title. Mikel John Obi started in central defence here alongside Branislav Ivanovic, with Hazard making his first appearance since the Champions League defeat at home to Paris Saint-Germain. The Belgian was welcomed into the game early on by a thudding challenge from Lewis Grabban but after wincing and clutching his leg, Hazard picked himself off the turf and went on to have a decisive impact.
First, though, Pedro did. Bournemouth had made an energetic start to the match and the left-back Charlie Daniels was advancing high. However, after Daniels’ low cross into the opposition penalty area was cleared, he was caught out. Chelsea swiftly broke and, following a precise ball from Fábregas, Pedro found space cutting inside from the right and demonstrated a fine touch and finish.
Bournemouth have conceded many early goals this season and tried to respond immediately. Josh King shot over the crossbar from Daniels’ corner before Steve Cook squandered an excellent chance. Asmir Begovic – deputising for the suspended Thibaut Courtois – could only palm a corner tamely into Cook’s path, but the defender made a hash of his effort and sliced over.
Soon, Chelsea had two. Hazard, who has endured a largely torrid, injury-beset campaign, ran inside and was laid off following a deft flick from Fábregas. Space opened up and he fired through the legs of Elphick and in from 25 yards.
At that stage it seemed Bournemouth were in for a torturous afternoon, yet they clawed their way back into the game moments later. A corner was taken short to Francis and his cross found the head of Elphick, who made just enough contact to guide the ball past Begovic.
Unfortunately for Bournemouth, that was as good as it got. With the exception of a Junior Stanislas shot that fizzed wide in the 66th minute, they could not create the same attacking verve they had previously shown.
And so Chelsea ensured victory with 20 minutes remaining, Willian found by Fábregas once more and finishing coolly past Artur Boruc, before Hazard scored his second in injury time. Nemanja Matic played a one-two with Fábregas and pulled the ball back for Hazard to finish with ease.
Howe said: “A number of their players played at a high level today, Fabregas, Hazard, Willian, Costa. You have to admire their quality. We’re learning all the time and that’s key for us. We’re still finding our feet at this level and learning some harsh lessons.”
Guardian
