Watford 1-2 Chelsea, more about game
Chelsea traveled to Vicarage Road to face Watford who have failed to pick all three points in a single EPL game this season. Frank Lampard made only a change to his eleven that punched Burnley 2-4 at Turf Moore last week Saturday, replacing Marcos Alonso with returning from injury Emerson Palmieri at left back.
Christian Pulisic was handed his third consecutive start since coming on as a sub against Ajax in the UEFA Champions League last month. Tammy Abraham who was sidelined in Chelsea’s lost to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup last Wednesday resumed his position up front.
Bottom placed Watford on the other hand came into the game in search of their first ever win in the EPL this season. The Hornets had drew 5 games and lost 5 from their previous 10 games so far in the League.
Chelsea started the game very well and took the lead just five minutes into the first half. Jorginho’s one-time slide pass beat the defense of Watford, and into the path of Tammy Abraham. The Chelsea youngster wasted no time to chip the ball over Ben Foster to give Frank Lampard’s side the lead.
The intensity of the game eventually reduced as both teams looked relaxed and comfortable in possession within their own halves.
But Chelsea nearly doubled their lead during the closing stage of the first half as Mason Mount who was cutting through from the left edge of Watford penalty area danced his way through a couple of Watford players before sending in a rocket into Watford goal but Foster’s stunning dive was strong enough to divert the shot to marry the woodwork on the 43rd minute.
Before Mount’s effort, the home side had neutralized Chelsea’s attack, and somehow made it difficult for the Blues to keep possession.
But Chelsea showed a different side of them early in the second half, swinging their passes together, more particularly among Jorginho, Kovacic who arguably had his best game for Chelsea today, Willian, Pulisic and Mount.
Ten minutes into the second half, Chelsea doubled their lead through Christian Pulisic after receiving a low cross into Watford six yard box from Abraham. It is the American’s fourth EPL goal in consecutive two games.
Chelsea were too strong for Watford to contain right after Pulisic goal. Chelsea then controlled every aspect of the game, and it looked the game was ending 2-0 for Lampard’s side, and if a goal was to be scored, it was perhaps Chelsea who were favorite than the home side to do so.
When it was ten minutes to full time, Jorginho fouled Gerard Deulofeu in Chelsea penalty box after it appeared that Chelsea had kept the ball at the back for quite too long than they were expected to clear it.
With the help of the VAR, though the review took so many minutes, Anthony Taylor awarded the resulting penalty to Watford as the review proved that there was a contact between Jorginho and Deulofeu.
The former Barcelona product stepped up to send Kepa the wrong way. The game could have ended 2-2 but Foster’s last minute header was brilliantly saved by Kepa to keep Chelsea still 2-1 up.
Chelsea have moved to third place on the table with 23 points, three points above fourth Leicester City who take on Crystal Palace tomorrow afternoon at Selhurst Park. Chelsea won by today’s same score line at today’s same Stadium last season.
