Two goals from Diego Costa and one each from Eden Hazard and Gary Cahill lifted Chelsea to a 4-2 win over Southampton on Tuesday in Premier League action, increasing the Blues' lead atop the league over Tottenham to seven points. Cahill's goal came late in the first half to give the hosts momentum before they put it away in the second half.
The seven-point lead in the standings could change on Wednesday though, when Tottenham goes to Crystal Palace. But Chelsea did what it needed to do in a performance that saw the team improve as the match went on.
It was this lovely goal from Hazard just five minutes in that gave Chelsea the 1-0 lead:
Fàbregas plays a through ball which Costa runs onto & gets his head up before finding Hazard who fires a shot into the far corner. 1-0. #CFC pic.twitter.com/ghWY3ZJooi
— Chelsea GIFs (@ChelseaGIFs) April 25, 2017
In an open match that saw Chelsea's defense struggle a bit in the first half, Southampton got on the board in the 24th minute thanks to former Chelsea player Oriol Romeu, who poked home a loose ball from close. The lead was short lived though as Cahill headed home right before the break:
Kanté floats a ball back into the Southampton area and Gary Cahill rises well to head home the second ball. 2-1. #CFC pic.twitter.com/SINpPwwjbf
— Chelsea GIFs (@ChelseaGIFs) April 25, 2017
Then it was Costa's turn, snapping his five-match scoreless streak in the league with this goal on 53 minutes:
From a short corner, Hazard drives at Saints defenders & pulls back for Fàbregas who chips in a great cross that Costa heads home. 3-1. #CFC pic.twitter.com/450aJoB7WL
— Chelsea GIFs (@ChelseaGIFs) April 25, 2017
Costa's second and Chelsea's last one came in the 89th minute off some lovely passing:
BOOM. Diego Costa's second goal. Quality football 🏈 pic.twitter.com/o7AEoR4XvP
— artist frmly knwn as (@rassanb) April 25, 2017
Former Chelsea man Ryan Bertrand would get a goal in the 94th minute for the visitors to cut the lead in half, but it wasn't enough as Chelsea yet again earned three massive points in its march towards the Premier League crown.
The Blues next match is tricky one on Sunday at Everton.
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