Chelsea complete ten minute turnaround to add to Saints' woes

- Saints desire -

The home side, who went into the game three points off 17th-placed Crystal Palace with a game in hand, were desperate for a win, and this showed in the first half. Chelsea showed glimpses of quality through Eden Hazard and Willian, but the home side just seemed to want it more, chasing after second balls and defending in numbers.

They gave their fans something to cheer about in the 21st minute, when they deservedly took the lead through Dusan Tadic. The goal was created by captain Ryan Bertrand, who made a powerful run down the wing, outpacing Cesar Azpilicueta to make it into the Chelsea box. He then cut it back for Tadic, who swept it past Courtois to put the hosts 1-0 up.

Chelsea were on the front foot for most of the half, but they were unable to find a reply, and despite getting away seven shots in the half, none were on target

- Dream debut -

It was the same story when the two sides came out for the second half, with Southampton fighting hard for everything. They doubled their lead with a goal from debutant Jan Bednarek in the 60th minute, when the defender drilled home a finish from the back post after a superb James Ward-Prowse free-kick.

- Super sub -

However, things went downhill from there for the home side, as Chelsea seemed to switch on after the second goal. Olivier Giroud came on after the second goal, and he made a big impact, scoring a brace. The first came from a whipped Marcos Alonso cross, which Giroud nodded past Alex McCarthy in the 70th minute.

The home side seemed to collapse, and five minutes later Chelsea equalised. A lovely low cross from Willian was delivered between the lines, finding Eden Hazard in the box. The Belgian controlled well, before burying a lovely finish into the top corner to level at 2-2 on minute 75.

The comeback was completed just three minutes later, with Giroud’s second goal knocking the stuffing out of the Saints team, fans and manager. Willian started the move with a sly ball to Hazard from a free-kick, and Hazard then crossed to the back post. Both Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill got heads on it, but it ended up falling to Giroud just outside the box, and the Frenchman fired a low shot through all the bodies, past McCarthy, to seal a ten minute comeback from Antonio Conte’s side.

- Hughes dissapointment - 

Although it was an impressive turnaround from Chelsea, who retain fifth position, this was a game they should have been winning easily, and the main focus has to be the collapse from Southampton. After allowing Arsenal to come from behind last week, they again let a lead slip, allowing what would have been a vital three points to get away from them. With five games remaining, Mark Hughes’ side are three points from safety, and will have to put up a big fight to avoid relegation.

 

April 14, 2018