Rosh Hashannah
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Chelsea beat Brighton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge: match report
The Blues recorded a sixth straight home win as an improved second-half display proved too much for the visitors.
Alvaro Morata added spark to the hosts' attack after starting up front in a 3-5-2 formation - though it was one of his Chelsea teammates who nearly opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Cesc Fabregas whipped the ball in from the right to Antonio Rudiger who, at the far post, headed the the ball downwards and into the path of Tiemoue Bakayoko. But despite standing just a few yards in front of the goal, the midfielder somehow contrived to drive the ball wide of the goal.
Brighton looked bright early on but were left breathing a sigh of relief seven minutes later when Fabregas' long-ball over the Brighton defence was latched onto by Victor Moses. The wing-back's first-time shot, however, bounced onto the pitch and into the hands of Matthew Ryan. Brighton seemed content to sit back and absorb Chelsea's pressure. It meant the hosts tried to go for goal from long-range, with Fabregas' effort being claimed by Ryan in the 40th minute before Rudiger drove his effort moments later wide.
The half-time break seemed to revive the champions as Chelsea took just a minute to get the opener after the re-start. The goal came in rather familiar fashion after Azpilicueta sent a long ball to Morata, who got away from his marker and headed it past Ryan. Hazard could have then doubled Chelsea's advantage but drove wide before Alonso took centre stage when he first forced Ryan into a save with his fine free-kick before his header from a corner saw the Brighton goalkeeper make a last-ditch stop to keep the ball out of the net.
But it was third time lucky for Alonso on the hour mark when he headed Fabregas' corner kick past Ryan to make it 2-0 as Chelsea looked to kill off the game. Indeed, the hosts' third of the afternoon should have come after N'Golo Kante sprinted down the length of the pitch and sent the ball to Hazard but, after dancing in and around the Brighton defence, his shot was cleared off the line by Lewis Dunk. Chelsea continued to probe, but there were to be no more goals.
Image: Getty Images
Source: Evening Standard
The Blues recorded a sixth straight home win as an improved second-half display proved too much for the visitors.
Alvaro Morata added spark to the hosts' attack after starting up front in a 3-5-2 formation - though it was one of his Chelsea teammates who nearly opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Cesc Fabregas whipped the ball in from the right to Antonio Rudiger who, at the far post, headed the the ball downwards and into the path of Tiemoue Bakayoko. But despite standing just a few yards in front of the goal, the midfielder somehow contrived to drive the ball wide of the goal.
Brighton looked bright early on but were left breathing a sigh of relief seven minutes later when Fabregas' long-ball over the Brighton defence was latched onto by Victor Moses. The wing-back's first-time shot, however, bounced onto the pitch and into the hands of Matthew Ryan. Brighton seemed content to sit back and absorb Chelsea's pressure. It meant the hosts tried to go for goal from long-range, with Fabregas' effort being claimed by Ryan in the 40th minute before Rudiger drove his effort moments later wide.
The half-time break seemed to revive the champions as Chelsea took just a minute to get the opener after the re-start. The goal came in rather familiar fashion after Azpilicueta sent a long ball to Morata, who got away from his marker and headed it past Ryan. Hazard could have then doubled Chelsea's advantage but drove wide before Alonso took centre stage when he first forced Ryan into a save with his fine free-kick before his header from a corner saw the Brighton goalkeeper make a last-ditch stop to keep the ball out of the net.
But it was third time lucky for Alonso on the hour mark when he headed Fabregas' corner kick past Ryan to make it 2-0 as Chelsea looked to kill off the game. Indeed, the hosts' third of the afternoon should have come after N'Golo Kante sprinted down the length of the pitch and sent the ball to Hazard but, after dancing in and around the Brighton defence, his shot was cleared off the line by Lewis Dunk. Chelsea continued to probe, but there were to be no more goals.
Image: Getty Images
Source: Evening Standard
