Eden Hazard scored his 12th league goal of the season as Chelsea took another step towards the Premier League trophy, and extended their gap at the top of the league to 10 points by beating Manchester United 1-0.
The Belgian was proving to everyone why he has been rightfully nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award, as he took centre-stage throughout the 90 minutes.
The opening goal came in the 1st half, John Terry did well to steer Falcao away from Chelsea’s half, and the ball fell to Fabregas. He found Oscar in the middle of the pitch, the Brazilian then superbly found Hazard again with a back-heel. Hazard then found himself in Manchester United’s box, and slotting the ball in through De Gea’s legs. Everyone who is related to Chelsea would of known how big this goal was.
Wayne Rooney did have the chance to give Manchester United the lead early on in the 1st half. The English striker, who was playing in midfield for this game, found himself on the edge of the Chelsea box with some time. He then had to watch his effort go just past the post, and round the goal. In fact, it looked like it had gone in so much that De Gea, and the Manchester United fans were celebrating as if it had gone in.
Manchester United missed the chance to go 2nd, and Colombia striker Falcao could have made it 1-1, but his shot hit the frame of the goal. The visitors had the majority on basically every stat, apart from on the most important one – goals.
Willian and Ramires had dropped to the bench for this game, replaced by Zouma and Oscar. Falcao’s start was his 1st since February, Luke Shaw returned to the United starting XI along with Paddy McNair. Michael Carrick, Daley Blind, Marco Rojo and Phil Jones were all out with injuries.
David De Gea had barely anything to do in the 1st half. In fact, all he had to do was pick Eden Hazard’s effort out of the net, eight minutes from time.
The closest Chelsea came to doubling their advantage was when Herrera had given the ball away in midfield poorly and suddenly Didier Drogba had be slid in and as he tried to find Eden Hazard at the back post, the Belgian’s difficult effort nearly paid off, but hit the crossbar.
Late on, there was controversy. Ander Herrera went down in the box in the final seconds of added time, but when he turned to look for the referee’s decision, it wasn’t the one he was looking for. Herrera was booked for simulation after he left a trailing leg to hit Gary Cahill, and it was the right decision.
A positive win vs. Arsenal next weekend would mean Chelsea would only need one more win to crown themselves Premier League champions.
