CHELSEA beat Leicester 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to take charge of their top four fates heading into the last day of the Premier League season.
The Blues went ahead through Antonio Rudiger before Jorginho doubled their lead with a penalty and Kelechi Iheanacho pulled one back late on.
- RESULT: Chelsea 2 Leicester 1
- Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Thiago Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell, Mount, Werner, Pulisic
- Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Castagne, Fofana, Soyuncu, Albrighton, Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas, Maddison, Perez, Vardy
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THAT’S ALL FROM LONDON!
Chelsea beat Leicester 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with an impressive performance and avenged Saturday’s FA Cup Final loss.
In what was an eventful first half, the Blues had two goals disallowed, both of which were scored by Timo Werner who was caught offside and found to have handled the ball on separate occasions.
Thomas Tuchel’s men protested for a penalty on Werner, who was quite the centre of attention in the first 45 minutes, when Youri Tielemans grounded him by kicking the back of his foot inside the box only for referee Mike Dean to award a foul the other way.
The west Londoners got unlucky as N’Golo Kante, who was a constant threat for his former team, had to be replaced by the returning Mateo Kovacic as a precaution ahead of the Champions League Final.
But the hosts wouldn’t be denied in the second half as they opened the scoring after 47 minutes when Antonio Rudiger tapped the ball to the back of the net following a corner-kick by Ben Chilwell.
Jorginho doubled Chelsea’s lead from the penalty spot with a cool finish after Werner was fouled inside the box on 66 minutes.
Kelechi Iheanacho set the match on fire with a sudden strike just 10 minutes later but Leicester couldn’t find an equaliser.
That’s all from us at Stamford Bridge, have a lovely night!
GETTY IMAGES RODGERS REACTS
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers believes his players “gave everything” and claims the referee’s decision to award Chelsea with a penalty was “very, very, very, harsh”.
Rodgers told Sky Sports: “It was a very hard fought game. We’re obviously disappointed with the goals. We conceded a needless corner and didn’t pick up well enough. The penalty is very, very, very, harsh. It’s one that we will learn from.
“It was a great atmosphere. It’s brilliant to have the supporters back. We had to weather that storm which we knew would come. We did that, but the nature of the goals we gave away wasn’t so good. If we showed a little bit more patience we might have created one or two more opportunities but it wasn’t to be.
“My players gave everything and I’m so proud of them. We’re playing against a top side with top players. We’ll recover and get ready for the weekend now.
“We’re still in that top four and we’ve got one more game to go. If we win it and it’s still not enough for us we have to accept that. It’s still been a great season”
GETTY IMAGES TUCHEL ON KANTE
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel confirmed N’Golo Kante is not injured and he decided to replace him with the returning Mateo Kovacic in the first half because the France midfielder felt like an injury would be imminent if he continued to play.
Tuchel said: “N’Golo is not injured. He went out before the injury.
“He said he would get injured if he continued to play. We put out Kova [Kovacic] that was a risk but it was the moment to take risk as it was a game of highest importance.
“I am happy it worked out. Hopefully NG will come back as we are a different team with him”
GETTY IMAGES
TUCHEL REACTS
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is pleased with the result but insists the job is not yet done.
Tuchel praised his players for an “outstanding performance” and the returning fans for being the “difference” makers.
The German manager also insisted the Blues were not looking for any sort of revenge after losing the FA Cup Final
Here’s what Tuchel said:
WERNER REACTS
Chelsea ace Timo Werner was full of emotion after full-time as much happened with him in the epicentre.
Werner was denied a penalty when Leicester star Youri Tielemans brought him down inside the box and also saw two of his goals being ruled out in the first half.
The striker believes this has been the “unluckiest season” of his entire career.
The Germany international said: “[It’s been] The unluckiest season I’ve ever had and I will have maybe because it can’t be [worse]!”
KEL-ING IT
Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal couldn’t help Leicester get a result tonight against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
But that didn’t stop Iheanacho from making Premier League history with a major milestone.
The Nigeria striker has become the first ever player to score on all days of the week within a single season.
More below:
GETTY IMAGES UPDATED TABLE
Chelsea have overtaken Leicester in third place on the Premier League table after their victory at Stamford Bridge.
The Foxes are now fourth with three points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool.
Chelsea and Leicester have one last game to go against Aston Villa away and Tottenham at home respectively.
But Liverpool have two fixtures left with Burnley away and Crystal Palace at Anfield
STATS
Chelsea dominated 58.5 per cent of possession throughout the crucial Premier League clash.
The Blues registered a total of 17 shots, six of which were on target, in what was an impressive performance following Saturday’s disappointing display in the FA Cup Final.
The Foxes recorded seven shots, three of which were on target and all of them occurred in the second half.
The visisors needed another big night from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel who made four saves compared to his counterpart Edouard Mendy’s two
FT: CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
Chelsea got revenge from Leicester at Stamford Bridge after Saturday’s FA Cup Final loss.
In what was an eventful first half, the Blues had two goals disallowed, and both of them were scored by Timo Werner who was found offside and handed the ball on separate occasions.
Thomas Tuchel’s men protested for a penalty on Werner, who was quite the centre of attention in the first 45 minutes, when Youri Tielemans grounded him by kicking the back of his foot inside the box only for referee Mike Dean to award a foul for the Foxes.
The west Londoners got unlucky as N’Golo Kante, who was a constant threat for his former team, picked up an injury and was replaced by the returning Mateo Kovacic.
But the hosts wouldn’t be denied in the second half as they opened the scoring after 47 minutes when Antonio Rudiger drove the ball to the back of the net following a corner-kick by Ben Chilwell.
Jorginho doubled Chelsea’s lead from the penalty spot after Werner was fouled inside the box on 66 minutes.
Kelechi Iheanacho set the match on fire with a sudden strike just 10 minutes later but Leicester couldn’t muster an equaliser
GETTY IMAGES
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME IN LONDON!!!!!!!
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
90+4 YELLOW CARD
The officials have diffused the situation whereas referee Dean books Amartey, who’s not even on the match!
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
90+4 The brawl blows over as referee Mike Dean talks to the fourth official.
Much riding to this game and the fans’ influence are raising tensions in the pitch
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
90+3 A brawl ensues on the pitch of Stamford Bridge!
Chilwell goes down after a challenge with Ricardo and Rudiger pushes him with force from behind.
The Leicester and Chelsea ace then get on each other’s necks while their team-mates join in!
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
90 SUBSTITUTION
Tuchel brings on Giroud for Werner for the last five minutes of stoppage time!
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
90 WHAT A CHANCE!
Leicester come so close to an equaliser!
Ricardo does wonderfully down the right flank and launches a beautiful pass towards the box where he finds Perez unmarked.
But the forward’s shot just misses Mendy’s top left corner!
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
88 YELLOW CARD
Ndidi gets booked for tackling Mount to the ground.
Leicester are protesting as it appears like the Chelsea ace fouled Tielemans first
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
87 SUBSTITUTION
And so it seems…
Azpilicueta is replaced by Zouma, as Tuchel also wants to protect the lead.
The Chelsea captain gets booked with a yellow card as he takes his good old time coming off the pitch
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
87 Chelsea captain Azpilicueta is down on the pitch favouring what seems to be his left ankle after a clash with Soyuncu.
It seems like he will be taken off soon!
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
85 Leicester are still trying to get forward for an equaliser but Chelsea’s back-three have been rock-solid, with the exception of that giveaway that led to Iheanacho’s goal.
Chelsea are also not on the defensive as they are pushing for a third goal to seal their win
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
84 This is why you should never give away a penalty against Chelsea.
Jorginho has been absolutely clinical from the spot!
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
82 YELLOW CARD
Leicester ace Fofana gets booked after lunging on Werner down the Foxes’ defensive third
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
80 Leicester are trying to push forward for the equaliser but Chelsea remain calm.
This is how big Iheanacho’s goal was regardless…
CHELSEA 2-1 LEICESTER
76 From out of nowhere, Leicester are back in this!
The Foxes had become more threatening ever since Iheanacho’s introduction!
And they get a goal as Chelsea poorly lose the ball inside their own third and Ndidi set the the Nigerian up to beat Mendy with a neat shot down the bottom left corner!
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!
LEICESTER ARE BACK IN WITH IHEANACHO!!!!!
CHELSEA 2-0 LEICESTER
76 CHANCE!
Ricardo moves the ball around nicely on the edge of Chelsea’s box and finds Iheanacho who delivers a shot and just misses Mendy’s bottom right corner!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
