Chelsea 2-0 AFC Bournemouth
There are moments in Premier League seasons when you look back and think, ‘that was a key moment’.
Could this be one such moment for Chelsea, SBOBET fans?
Premier League 2018 odds certainly rate them more favourably than at the start of the season – albeit one which is only four games old – and with moments like those produced by Pedro at Stamford Bridge, it is no wonder.
Highlights of the game
Seventy-one minutes were on the clock and Chelsea’s frustration among players and fans alike was growing when the Spaniard, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes, produced the decisive moment.
The former Barcelona man exchanged passes with fellow substitution Olivier Giroud and drilled the ball past Asmir Begovic, formerly of Chelsea, in the Cherries’ goal.
It took a fortunate deflection which left Begovic with no chance and the spirited resistance of the visitors was broken.
The slaloming Eden Hazard put the gloss on the scoreline five minutes from time, firing the ball low across goal from a tight angle, to make it four wins out of four for new boss Maurizio Sarri.
At moments like this, Hazard shows why he can be as good as any of the top world stars. This must make Sarri extremely grateful the club managed to hold onto him during a summer in which he starred in Russia 2018, skippering Belgium to a third-place finish and arguably deserved the player of the tournament accolade – ultimately won by Croatian midfield star Luka Modric.
It continued the Belgian footballer’s fine record against the Cherries and, surprisingly to me and many football fans I’m sure, was only his third goal in his last 18 home league appearances.
In truth, before the opener went in, Nathan Ake should have scored against his former employer, just as he did last season when the south coast club caused one of the shocks of the season.
But the charismatic defender inexplicably fired the ball high from just three yards out when the match was still goalless – a miss he was left to rue.
Chelsea had dominated possession but, until Pedro’s intervention, Begovic had led the resolute display, particularly in denying Marcos Alonso after superb work by Hazard.
The impressive Alonso had earlier hit the post on the stroke of half-time, again after linking up with Hazard, with a right-footed shot from the outside of the box.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic with Bournemouth creating half chances for new boy Jefferson Lerma, Steve Cook and Callum Wilson, while the enterprising Ryan Fraser went close to reducing the deficit in stoppage time.
The resolute Cherries had been aiming to win three consecutive away games in the Premier League for the first time and also go unbeaten in their opening four league matches for the first time since 1998. That was when they were plying their trade in the third tier of English football.
However, while it took a while to find the breakthrough, there was no disputing the final scoreline: Chelsea head into the international break with a maximum points haul while Bournemouth and man of the match Begovic can also be pleased with their start to the campaign.
The west Londoners have now won 10 of their 12 meetings with Bournemouth, including six of the last seven in the Premier League.
After four wins from four games, Chelsea are enjoying what they call Sarriball!
His substitutions of Pedro, Giroud and Ruben Loftus-Cheek certainly made their mark.
Of course, there is more work to do and big tests ahead but as starts go, it’s difficult to fault.
Key statistics
Premier League 2018 news take note: Chelsea have now won their opening four matches of a Premier League campaign for a sixth time, extending their own record, and for the first time since 2014.
They have been crowned champions in four of the five seasons in which they won their first four games (2010-11 being the exception).
Hazard has also now scored in all five of Chelsea’s Premier League wins against Bournemouth, notching six goals in total.
What’s next?
No sooner has the season started than it’s time for the first international break of the new season.
When the action resumes on September 15, Chelsea will welcome newly promoted Cardiff City to Stamford Bridge.
Bournemouth will entertain Leicester City at the same time.
Chelsea will then begin their Europa League campaign – a tournament they won in 2013 – in Group L when they travel to Greece to face PAOK Salonika.
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