CHELSEA 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 0
Title in the Bagg on Friday
CHELSEA are one win away from being crowned Premier League champions after sending Middlesbrough down last night.
Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic ensured Chelsea will be confirmed as title winners by beating West Brom on Friday. It was another dominant display which moved Antonio Conte’s side to within touching distance of the championship. Bizarrely, all three goals went through the legs of keeper Brad Guzan to get the party started at Stamford Bridge. It proved another miserable evening for goalshy Middlesbrough. Their one-season stay in the top flight is over and they follow north-east rivals Sunderland in heading back to the Championship next season.
CHELSEA were in cruise control last night as they made sure they can bag the title at the Baggies.
The Blues knew a win would allow them to claim the Premier League crown away to West Brom on Friday.
And there was not a hint of nerves as they set out to batter Boro and consign Steve Agnew’s side to an immediate return to the Championship.
Antonio Conte’s men went two-up before the break thanks to goals from Diego Costa and Marcos Alonso.
For Costa it was his 21st goal of the season and Alonso has now weighed in with a useful half-dozen.
And to make it a night when Spain reigned, the first was created by Cesc Fabregas and the second by fellow countryman Cesar Azpilicueta.
Fabregas, for good measure, made the third for Nemanja Matic.
Boro, as expected, barely put up a fight. Few teams have been able to handle Chelsea all season.
With less than a minute gone they could have been a goal ahead.
Fabregas’ raking ball found Alonso and his superbly struck volley on the angle was somehow palmed onto the bar by Brad Guzan via the turf.
Eden Hazard teed up Fabregas perfectly in the centre of goal just inside the box in the 17th minute, but the Spaniard’s attempted sidefoot finish went a couple of yards wide.
Free
Then four minutes later he looked to have put it on a plate for Costa, but somehow George Friend managed to do enough to stop the striker tucking the ball away from just a couple of feet out.
But he only needed two minutes more to score as somehow the Boro backline left him free at the far post.
Fabio was at fault, not being able to stretch far enough to stop Fabregas’ chipped pass from reaching the hitman.
Costa’s control was not quite perfect but his reaction after was, getting the