FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 3-0 WATFORD
90+4' Pulisic makes another solo run into the box an is taken off the ball by Mariappa. Watford tries on last long ball but Welbeck is flagged offside. The referee blows the whistle to bring the game to an end.
90+2' GOAL CHELSEA! A brilliant passing move, initiated by Barkley reaches the midfielder in the centre through Azpilicueta who smashes it into the roof of the net to make it 3-0.
90+1' A superb solo run from Welbeck present Watford its best chance of the game. The striker fends off three defenders in his path and cuts it back for Hughes who flashes it wide.
90' Pulisic is put through to the goal by Willian on the left side but Kabasele makes ground quickly to put in a vital block.
88' A superb cross from James reaches Loftus-Cheek lurking at the far post. The England international is off balance as he heads the ball and sends it wide off the far post.
85' Chelsea regains possession as Pulisic barges into the box. The winger goes down at the near post after coming in contact with Kabasele and Mariappa but the referee deems the challenge legitimate through VAR.
82' Ismalia Sarr comes off to be replaced by Roberto Pereyra. Watford needs to do something and quick to be able to take a point off Chelsea.
80' Suddenly, Watford forward line comes to life. Kepa saves from Welbeck and Chalobah in under one minute.
77' Lampard makes a triple changes as Willian, Giroud and Mason Mount make way for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi. N'Golo Kante limps off the pitch clutching his hamstring and is replaced by Billy Gilmour.
75' Zouma gifts away the ball to Welbeck near the centre but the striker in unable to make Chelsea pay for it. Watford wins a free kick just outside the box as Hughes curls it at the far post but Kabasele flashes his header wide off the crossbar.
73' Masina goes for an audacious long ranger but his kick lacked enough power as Kepa collects it comfortably.
71' Players break for drinks as Frank Lampard holds back his substitutions with less than 20 minutes to go. Watford wins a corner following a cross from Sarr. Hughes' delivery is straight at Zouma is comfortably heads it clear.
68' SHOT! Willian cuts in from the left flank and curls a stinging drive at the far post as Foster stretches to his left to make a save. The Brazilian finds Zouma with the resultant corner kick who directs it straight to Foster.
66' Nigel Pearson makes two more changes as he takes off Kiko and Deeney for Adam Masina and Tom Cleverley.
64' Barkley whips in a dangerous ball across the face of the goal but it finds no takers in the centre as Watford gets a goal kick.
62' Chance! Azpilicueta puts in a superb ball for Giroud at the far post. The Frenchman gets a head to it but is unable to direct it past the goalkeeper as Chalobah clears it away.
60' Chelsea's intensity has been too much for Watford. The visitor has barely ventured into the attacking half in the second period.
58' Danny Welbeck comes on for Etienne Capoue to inject some dynamism into the Watford forwardline. Willian brilliantly holds the ball in the centre accelerates into the box. The Brazilian puts Giroud through to the goal as Foster makes a saves to avert the danger.
56' Azpilicueta wins a corner after Watford scampers to clear the ball away. Willian's delivery goes wide off the Blue shirts inside the box as Foster gets hold of the ball.
54' Zouma and Christensen have barely been troubled in the centre as Watford has been unable to keep possession for a sustained period of time. The visitor has been overrun by its opponent in all departments.
52' Deeney gifts away the ball to Barkley who plays it to Kante. Chelsea tries to work the ball away through the left but is ends up conceding a free kick. Watford plays it long as Hughes cuts it back for Deeney, but the Hornets captain is unable to get hold of the ball and the Blues defence clears it away.
50' Mariappa goes into the referee's book for a clumsy challenge on Pulisic. Chelsea pins Watford back in its box as Willian forces a block from Kabasele.
48' Barkley and Mount hold the ball upfield as Azpilicueta sends a cross into the box. Watford defence scampers to clear the ball away.
46' We are underway in the second half! Watford retracts back into its shell as Willian sprays the ball wide to Azpilicueta who plays it to Pulisic. The American tries to curl towards the far corner but it flies over the post.
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 2-0 WATFORD
45+1' Barkley wins the ball from Doucoure but is unable to find Willian on the right wing. Chelsea come close once again after Pulisic cuts in from the right wing. Mariappa does well to take the ball away from the winger.
43' Willian Scores! Willian sends Foster the wrong way as he buries his spot kick into the right top corner. Fifth penalty goal of the season for the Brazilian.
43' PENALTY! Capoue brings down Pulisic at the near post and the referee immediately points to the spot.
41' Chelsea wins a free kick outside the box but Mount's free kick takes a deflection off a Watford shirt and goes wide off the near post.
39' Willians wins a corner and whips it at the near post which is straight to Kiko who heads it away to safety. Chelsea builds from the back as James sends in a dangerous cross for Giroud in the centre which is palmed away by Foster.
37' Kabasele is shown a yellow card for an elbow on Giroud who goes down just outside the box. Willian's free kick clatters into the Watford wall once again as Mariappa hacks it away to safety.
35' Deeney spread the ball away to Sarr who sends a low cross into the box. It takes a wicked deflection off Zouma but goes wide off the far post. The resultant corner is cleared comfortably by Chelsea defence.
32' Kiko reaches byline on the left side and crosses it for Capoue in the centre. However, Kante is well placed inside the box to head it away.
30' Chelsea is moving the ball around with more confidence following the opener. Azpilicueta sends a dangerous cross in from the left for Giroud, but Foster is alert to pluck it out of the air.
28' GOAL CHELSEA! Olivier Giroud gets the breakthrough for the Blues with a superb finish into the bottom corner. Mount and Barkley dissect the crowded Watford defence with some slick passing to put the striker through to the goal.
27' The teams break for drinks following Watford's free kick attempt. Chelsea tries to find a way through the centre.
24' Chelsea wastes the free kick as Watford counters through space on the left wing. Mason Mount is shown a yellow card for a stamp on Deeney. Capoue overhits the resultant free kick which loops over the crossbar.
21' Giroud wins a free kick after being clipped on the ankle by Capoue just outside the box. The Watford defender is shown a yellow card as Willian stands over the set-piece.
19' Blocked! Pulisic and Giroud link up brilliantly as the Frenchman angles a shot at the far post but Foster sticks out his left leg to block the attempt.
17' Reece James has been far from impressive after starting ahead of Marcos Alonso. The right-back loses the ball in the final third as Watford goes on the counter. However, the play is stopped after Deeney is floored by a flying tackle by Zouma.
15' Doucoure and Hughes combine on the left wing but James wins back the ball as Chelsea counters. Willian pulls the trigger from the edge of the box but his shot is straight at Foster.
12' Hughes wins a free kick in a dangerous position after being fouled by Reece James. Hughes takes the set-piece but is unable to find Dawson at the far post. Hughes wins back the ball outside the box and pulls the trigger but his shot lacked power and direction.
9' Mount and Giroud play one-two on the right as the American plays a delightful lob over the Watford defence for Giroud who is blocked by Kabasele. Chelsea is dominating the possession but has looked flat flooted in the final third so far.
7' Capoue is dispossessed by James on the right wing as Chelsea counters. Pulisic wins a corner for Chelsea which worked short. Mount tries to cross in at the far post but sends it over the bar.
5' Giroud's free kick is straight at the Watford wall as the Blues go back to build from the defence. Watford is showing no signs to attack in the opening minutes.
3' Barkley tries to tee up Giroud through the space in the centre but loses the ball. The former Everton man wins a free kick for the host after Chalobah brings him down just outside the box.
1' KICK-OFF! Watford begins the proceedings at Stamford Bridge. The Hornets take the right wing to attack as Deeney chases a low cross into the box but Zouma clears it away to safety
- Both teams start with massively-changed line-ups. Frank Lampard has run four changes brining in Kurt Zouma and James Reece in the defence for Antonio Rudiger and Marcos Alonso while starting with Mason Mount in the midfield ahead of Mateo Kovacic. Upfront Olivier Giroud makes his eighth Premier League start of the season. Hornets coach Nigel Pearson went with Christian Kabasele and Adrian Mariappa in the back four in place of Craig Cathcart and Adam Masina. In the centre, Nathaniel Chalobah is favored ahead of Roberto Pereyra.
Line-ups:
Chelsea (4-3-3): Kepa; Reece, Zouma, Christesen, Azpilicueta; Kante, Barkley, Mount; Willian, Giroud, Pulisic.
Watford (4-2-3-1): Foster; Femenia, Dawson, Kabasele, Mariappa; Chalobah, Capoue; Hughes, Doucoure, Sarr; Deeney.
- Form Guide: Chelsea - DWWWL, Watford - WLDLL
- What's at stake: Manchester United stunning 5-2 victory over Bournemouth earlier in the day saw the Red Devils move to fourth in the Premier League. Chelsea must beat Watford today in order to snatch back the place from United and keep pace with Leicester City. A win for Watford would take it further away from the relegation zone to 16th. A draw would keep both the teams static in their current position.
Hotstar will be live streaming the Premier League match Chelsea from 12.30 am (IST) on Sunday.
Comments
SHARE