Clinical Hazard sends Chelsea to the summit
Eden Hazard’s hat-trick extended Chelsea’s perfect start to five matches as a 4-1 win over Cardiff City sent the Blues to the top of the Premier League. The Belgian spared Chelsea’s blushes to drag Maurizio Sarri’s men to victory, after Sol Bamba had shocked the west Londoners by giving Cardiff the lead. Hazard’s virtuoso performance proved a study in clinical finishing. Two chances, two goals – the game first rescued and then won, and all in just seven first-half minutes. His joyful penalty 10 minutes from time then furnished the 27-year-old master craftsman with the match ball, before Willian walloped home a fine fourth. Where Spain star Pedro could only hustle and bustle without finding the target – spurning four openings, two of those gilt-edged – Hazard delivered on demand, and with equal parts panache and precision to boot. Olivier Giroud laid on Hazard’s first two goals, as the France target man continues to refine a potent partnership with his team-mate. New boss Sarri became just the fourth Premier League manager to win his first five fixtures in the division, following in the footsteps of Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Craig Shakespeare. Ryan Fraser scored twice and made another as Bournemouth continued their impressive start to the Premier League season by blitzing 10-man Leicester City 4-2 at the Vitality Stadium. The Scottish winger produced two composed finishes to put the Cherries in control and, after Joshua King’s penalty secured a three-goal half-time lead, set up a fourth for Adam Smith. A forgettable afternoon for the Foxes, who had captain Wes Morgan sent off at 3-0, ended on a more positive note as a penalty from James Maddison and Marc Albrighton’s header halved the deficit late on. Wilfried Zaha’s brilliant first-half goal clinched Crystal Palace a 1-0 win at Huddersfield Town, whose winless Premier League run continues. Zaha, the game’s outstanding talent, underlined his importance to Roy Hodgson’s side with a moment of magic to seal their first league victory since the opening day. Palace’s talisman, back in the starting line-up after a groin injury, tricked his way into the penalty area seven minutes before half-time and curled the ball into the top corner.