Win puts Chelsea seven points clear
LONDON: Buoyant Chelsea extended its Premier League lead and calmed nerves at Stamford Bridge with a 42 win over Southampton yesterday that moved it seven points clear of its nearest pursuer, Tottenham Hotspur.
Goals from Eden Hazard and captain Gary Cahill and two from a buzzing Diego Costa ensured Chelsea stayed on course for the double after it beat Tottenham by the same score in their FA Cup semifinal at Wembley on Saturday.
The victory pushed Chelsea on to 78 points after 33 games and exerted more pressure on secondplaced Spurs, which must win a potentially awkward London derby at Crystal Palace today to restore the gap to four points.
‘‘We had a really important psychological test and our ans
wer was good,’’ manager Antonio Conte said. ‘‘We have reached the final of the FA Cup but the other competition is totally open. But we fight until the end.’’
Conte juggled his team again yesterday, starting with Costa and Hazard, who came off the bench at Wembley, and his tactics were rewarded.
It took the side less than five minutes to open a lead when Costa controlled a pass from Cesc Fabregas, surged forward and cut the ball back for the advancing Hazard, who angled his shot into the bottom corner of Fraser Forster’s net.
Claude Puel’s Southampton worked its way back into the game, keeping tidy possession in
midfield and making surging runs with Sofiane Boufal, Ryan Bertrand and Manolo Gabbiadini looking dangerous.
Their industry paid off in the 24th minute when former Chelsea midfielder Oriel Romeu forced home from close range after Gabbiadini’s shot clipped the leg of keeper Thibaut Courtois and fell into his path.
Chelsea’s lead in the Premier League has been chipped away in recent weeks by a resurgent Tottenham, but Sunday’s fiery cup win had clearly boosted Conte’s side.
It grabbed the lead again just before halftime when a Fabregas corner was cleared only as far as N’Golo Kante 30m out. The France midfielder curled
the ball back into the area for captain Gary Cahill to head home.
Costa, who has been misfiring of late, took his chance in the 53rd minute and powered in a header — his 50th Premier League goal — after a corner and onetwo between Fabregas and Hazard.
He added a wellworked second for good measure in the 89th after a onetwo with Hazard.
Southampton scored a stoppagetime consolation through another former Chelsea player, Ryan Bertrand.
Conte delighted fans by bringing on club captain John Terry, who announced his endof-season departure from Chelsea last week after more than 18 years as a senior player, for the last five minutes of the game.
The former Juventus and Italy coach has used 36yearold former England captain Terry sparingly since arriving at Stamford Bridge last July.
Conte, already a favourite at the ground where two seasons ago Jose Mourinho held sway, is aiming to emulate Chelsea predecessor and compatriot Carlo Ancelotti by winning the double in his first year in charge.