Pedro and Eden prove to be a hazard for Bournemouth as Blues win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge
BY PAUL LAGAN
Pedro and Eden Hazard kept up the Blues’100 per cent start to the season – four wins out of four to secure all three points against a well organised and rugged Bournemouth outfit at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
Like the Newcastle game last week, the Blues are playing a confident, possession game. The end result eventually wearing down defence-minded opposition.
It took the Blues until the 72nd minute to break down the South-Coast side’s residence and its was a beauty from the edge of the penalty area by substitute Pedro.
Hazard typically crashed home a deft near-post effort.
An open start by both side. Cesar Azpilicueta’s possible shot, pet-has attempted pass from 35 yards pings past ex-Blue Asmir Begovic’ s goal on 5 moon utes.
A double save from Begovic two minutes later thwarted the rampant Blues – both efforts by recalled Willian.
Antonio Rudiger was next up, heading high over the crossbar from a Willian corner as the Blues pile on the pressure but lack the final cutting edged.
David Luiz then handed the ball to Joshua King who raced clear. N’Gola Kante cleaned up for the Brazilian making a successful last-ditch save.
Mateo Kovacic burst through a minute later but Adam Smith halted his run legally.
Dan Gosling was yellow carded by Lee Mason for hacking down Eden Hazard on 20. minutes.
Chelsea were carved opened on 30 minutes with Callum Wilson missing a sitter from close range as the home side looked vulnerable on the quick counter-attack by Bournemouth.
Alonso went into mason’s book for a needless puli on Smith on 33 minutes.
Just as the fourth official put up the two minutes added time on his board, the Blues went on a marauding raid with Kante the architect with a lung-busting 70 yard run. He passed to Willian who clipped it to Hazard. The midfielder side-footed the ball to in-running Alonso, who, just outside the visitors penalty area, scuffed a right-footer which pinged off Begovic’s right post and was successfully cleared.
There were no changes by either side at half-time.
As for the game, it was one-way again. Alonso on 55 forced a fine save out of Begovic. A quick break by the South Coast side saw Kante bowl over Wilson – a yellow card was the response by Mason.
Nathan Ake had a glorious chance only 58 minutes but somehow scooped the ball over Kepa Arrizabalaga’s crossbar from six yards out.
Alvaro Morata was Maurizio Sarri’s first victim as he hauled off the striker for Olivier Giroud on 61 minutes.
Willian was next to be taken off, Pedro replacing the Brazilian on 65 minutes.
Giroud was desperately unlucky not to see his left-footed volley smash the back of the Bournemouth net on 69 minutes but the effort took a wicked deflection for a corner. Jefferson Lerma received a yellow for tripping up Hazard.
The deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion by on-fire Pedro.
He picked up a return ball from Giroud, took one touch to his right, and let fly from the edge of the edge of the penalty area. The ball took a minor deflection on the way but beat Begovic to put the unbeaten Blues 1-0 up.
Ryan Fraser should have equalised on 76 minutes. He cit through the Blues defence , got to the edge of the Chelsea area, and attempted to curl a right footer past Kepa. But it went horrible working and the ball ended up in the Shed.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaced Kovacic with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Six minutes from time and hazard got on the end of a one-two with Alonso deep in the visitors’ penalty area and crashed a powerful shot past Begovic to double the score and secure the three points.
It’s international week with the players going off to all corners of the world before Cardiff City visit the Bridge on September 15.
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, kante, Hazard, Kovacic, Willian, Azpilicueta, Morata, Luiz,
Subs: Caballero, Barkley, Pedro, Loftus-Cheek, Giroud, Zappacosta, Christensen
Bournemouth: Begovic, Francis, Cook, Gosling, Ake, Lehman’s, Wilson, Smith, King, Rico, Fraser
Subs: Boruc, Surman, Mousset, Ibe, Cook, Brooks, Mings
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