Southampton 0 vs 3 Chelsea Fc
Southampton 0-3 Chelsea: Torres, Willian & Oscar keep up pressure on leaders
The Blues finally had a striker score away from home as Jose
Mourinho's substitutions prompted a slew of second-half goals at St
Mary's Stadium on New Year's DayThe Blues, who came into the match on the
back of wins against Swansea City and Liverpool, flexed their attacking
muscle after the break and were simply too good for the Saints, who lost
back-to-back home matches for the first time under manager Mauricio
Pochettino.
After an entertaining first half, Torres broke the
deadlock in the 60th minute, reacting quickly to head into an open net
after a deflected Eden Hazard cross beat Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin
Davis and hit the post. Chelsea did not have any recognised centre
forward score an away league goal in all of 2013 but, on the first day
of the new year, the Spaniard broke the drought.
Willian then
scored a fine curling strike from the edge of the penalty area with 19
minutes left before fellow substitute Oscar wrapped up the win with a
composed left-footed effort.
Ramires returned from suspension for
Chelsea in one of six changes, as the likes of Torres, Juan Mata and
Andre Schurrle also came in, while Morgan Schneiderlin and Gaston
Ramirez were recalled for Southampton.
Torres started brightly,
going close twice in the first three minutes, while Schurrle - making
his first league start since scoring twice at Stoke City in December -
fired just wide.
Southampton defender Dejan Lovren clashed heads
with team-mate Jose Fonte, causing play to stop, and, after the former
returned, Pochettino's side grew into the match.
Adam Lallana's
close-range shot was blocked by Ashley Cole and the same defender did
well to deny Jay Rodriguez when Ramirez played him through with a lofted
ball.
For the second time in 12 minutes, Davis was quick off his
line to deny Hazard - he did excellently to keep out Ramires earlier -
and Lallana was again denied inside the penalty area by an excellent
block, this time from Cesar Azpilicueta.
Ramires was a constant
threat and, after a charging run, he forced Davis to tip his strike over
the bar, while Hazard hesitated when he should have shot in an
attacking move that ended with Schurrle's effort blocked.
Lovren
and Fonte had efforts blocked as Chelsea failed to clear a corner two
minutes into the second half, while, at the other end, Oscar was booked
for simulation after a minor collision with the Southampton keeper.
An
excellent ball from Hazard set up Oscar - recently brought on for Mata -
but, after trying to round Davis in the penalty area, he left a
trailing leg in and threw himself to ground.
Chelsea were turning the screw and got their reward on the hour-mark thanks to Torres's
quick reaction but Southampton substitute Rickie Lambert fired a
warning shot with a close-range header at Petr Cech with 25 minutes
left.
Willian linked well with fellow substitute Oscar six minutes later, though, and curled an excellent strike past Davis.
Southampton's high line was punished again when Hazard's ball over the top sent Oscar through and he finished with aplomb eight minutes from time.
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