WAG’S LAUR MAKER
Depoitre seals survival for battling Terriers
HUDDERSFIELD ensured their place in the Premier League next season as they shocked Champions League chasing Chelsea last night.
While Antonio Conte and his men were desperate for three points to maintain their late and unexpected charge for a top-four place, the fired-up Terriers knew a point would see them survive after a campaign in the top flight.
And after dominating, Chelsea fell behind to a 50th-minute goal out of the blue from striker Laurent Depoitre.
Noisy
It was his first goal since an equaliser at Southampton on December 3 and it sent his team-mates, the Huddersfield bench and the noisy travelling support into raptures.
But the lead was to last just 12 minutes as Chelsea levelled with a fluke of a goal as Mathias Jorgensen’s clearance flew into the net via Marcos Alonso’s head.
But David Wagner’s battling side held on to avoid the drop.
Conte stuck to the pledge he made after the 1-0 defeat of Liverpool on Sunday and rotated his team, making six changes, leaving goal hero Olivier Giroud and star player Eden Hazard on the bench.
It was perhaps a surprise – even if the FA Cup Final with Man United is to come – considering the Blues were desperate to win to keep up their slim hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
In an early attack, Alonso’s rasping half-volley was beaten away by keeper Jonas Lossl at his near post and Antonio Rudiger somehow managed to miss from a couple of feet in the 12th minute.
In the 30th minute Chelsea had their second decent attempt when Alvaro Morata volleyed a Davide Zappacosta cross too close to Lossl.
With Willian in fine form, the creative spark looked like it was going to come from the Brazilian but it was N’Golo
Kante who played in Morata in the 41st minute. He skipped past keeper Lossl but in doing so forced himself wide and his attempt went across the face of goal.
Conte kept remarkably cool on the touchline as the frustration showed no sign of ending.
But he lost his composure when referee Lee Mason blew for half-time before Chelsea could take a corner.
Early in the second-half Rudiger had another chance but headed well over and seconds later the Terriers proved they had some bite as they grabbed the lead.
After he was challenged by both Jonathan Hogg and Christopher Schindler, Willian fell in a heap but ref Mason saw no foul. The ball then broke to Aaron Mooy, who sent it quickly over the top to Depoitre. As Blues keeper Willy Caballero rushed out, the striker prodded it against his head – but it bounced back to him and he lofted it over Rudiger and into the net.
In the 62nd minute Chelsea were back in it when Cesar Azpilicueta’s low cross was smashed away by Jorgensen – but only straight into Alonso’s head before landing in the net.
With Hazard and Giroud both on, the Blues went all out for that winner but Town held on.