Hazard fires up Blues title run
London, April 6: Eden Hazard fired Premier League leaders Chelsea to a crucial 2-1 win over Manchester City, but Tottenham are hot on their heels after a sensational fightback in their 3-1 victory at Swansea on Wednesday.
Chelsea remain seven points clear of second placed Tottenham with eight games to play, yet with just minutes left on a dramatic evening it seemed the Blues would have a much greater lead.
Rocked by Saturday’s shock 2-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side took only 10 minutes to take the lead through Hazard’s 12th goal of the season.
Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois was guilty of an even worse blunder, spilling David Silva’s shot to Sergio Aguero, who tapped in City’s 26th minute equaliser.
Conte’s team were back in front after 35 minutes when Fernandinho conceded a penalty with a foul on Pedro.
Hazard’s spot-kick was saved by Caballero, but the Belgian recovered quickly to finish off the rebound.
Kompany, back in the lineup for the first time since November, hit the crossbar with a second half header, but fourth placed City crashed to their first defeat in nine games, while Chelsea are still in pole position for the title.
At the Liberty Stadium, Tottenham fell behind in the 11th minute when Wayne Routledge turned in Jordan Ayew’s cross for Swansea.
But Tottenham staged an incredible finale as England midfielder Dele Alli equalised with an 88th minute tap-in.
A minute into stoppagetime, South Korea forward Son Heung-Min bagged his 16th goal of the season with a clinical finish and there was still time for Christian Eriksen’s strike to put the seal on Tottenham’s fifth successive win.
Arsenal eased the pressure on Arsene Wenger and climbed back into the race for Champions League qualification with a 3-0 win over West Ham.
Wenger had endured repeated calls for his resignation from frustrated fans in recent weeks, but the protests at the Emirates Stadium were more muted for once as Arsenal ended a three-match winless run with only their second victory in their last seven league games. Mesut Ozil broke the deadlock in the 58th minute.