LAM P S ’ N IC E LILLE EARNER
minutes later. The winger’s quick feet sent him ghosting past four Lille players but his low cross was cleared with Abraham waiting to pounce.
Chelsea were dominating against a side who arrived sure to finish bottom of the group no matter what the result and with nothing to lose.
They are in that position for a reason. Poor defending.
Cesar Azpilicueta strolled in at his leisure to power home Chelsea’s second from Emerson’s corner 10 minutes before the break. It was more of the same from the home team in the second half, Pulisic and Willian testing keeper Mike Maignan with fierce drives within a minute of the restart.
The Lille defence could not cope with Chelsea’s creativity.
Perhaps referee Tasos Sidiropoulos had pity on the side third in Ligue 1, because he should have shown a second yellow card to full-back Zeki Celik for a pull on Pulisic as he looked for the umpteenth time to be in on goal.
Instead the ref let off Celik – and Lille. This was a bad enough night for them as it was, although they were given some hope on 78 minutes when Remy sent the Blues a reminder it was not over yet.
But the visitors could not find another goal and for Chelsea it was a welcome return to form after defeats in two of their last three games.
Their Champions League adventure is still alive, despite their transfer ban, with their rookie manager at the helm.
But then Chelsea do like a miracle or two in this competition, don’t they?