Premier League: Olivier Giroud, Willian fire Chelsea to 3-0 victory over Watford
First-half objectives from Olivier Giroud and Willian and a late strike from Ross Barkley earned Chelsea a 3-0 Premier League victory over struggling Watford on Saturday and a lift to their ambitions for Champions League soccer subsequent season.
France striker Giroud hit the goal within the 28th minute, after a brisk transfer between Barkley and Mason Mount, with a low left foot shot that bounced in off the submit.
Brazil`s Willian despatched goalkeeper Ben Foster the flawed means from the spot two minutes earlier than halftime, after American winger Christian Pulisic, racing down the left, had drawn a careless foul from Etienne Capoue.
Barkley added a 3rd in stoppage time, after being arrange by captain Cesar Azpilicueta, following a flowing transfer between Ruben Loftus-Cheek and the ever-busy Pulisic.
It was a significant win for Chelsea, who misplaced to lowly West Ham United in midweek, because it returned them to fourth place after Manchester United had stolen the coveted spot for just a few hours by beating Bournemouth 5-2.
Leicester City additionally cemented their third place with a 3-Zero victory over Crystal Palace.
So Chelsea, in addition to relegation-threatened Watford, have been beneath strain and Frank Lampard made key modifications from the West Ham defeat, bringing in Giroud for Tammy Abraham, in addition to Kurt Zouma and Reece James in defence.
But the house facet laboured by way of the primary half hour regardless of having fun with most possession in opposition to the brilliant yellow ranks of a properly drilled Watford defence.
Giroud, then Willian twice, and Mount smashed the ball into the defensive wall from usefully positioned free kicks exterior the world.
But Giroud`s sharp strike relaxed the London facet and rattled the guests. The second purpose got here as no shock with Pulisic`s velocity and motion a continuing irritation to Watford. Capoue floored the American although he was operating huge of purpose and shook his head in disappointment when Willian calmly put away the penalty.
Giroud regarded eager so as to add to his tally within the second half, forcing Craig Dawson to avoid wasting with a properly positioned leg and Foster to smother one other shot from shut vary.
Watford, fourth from backside and solely some extent above the relegation zone, loved a purple patch late within the half, incomes their first shot heading in the right direction when substitute Adam Masina`s distance effort was comfortably held by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Masina had one other crack from a free kick however once more Kepa collected it.
And Kepa needed to dive low within the 81st minute to parry a shot from one other Watford substitute, Danny Welbeck.
But it was Chelsea who capitalised on their 70% possession on the dying, with a sensible transfer involving Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic and Azpilicueta who crossed the ball for Barkley to ram house.
“We needed that one today,” Pulisic instructed Sky Sports. “We came out with a lot of energy and we needed a huge result, especially after dropping points in the last game. There was a bit of extra energy because of that loss and we wanted to prove a point.”
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