Chelsea thumped Bournemouth 5-1 in a stunning show of their attacking firepower to go fifth in the early Premier League table.
Stunning strikes form Jordan Henderson bookmarked the scoring at Stamford Bridge as Xabi Alonso’s side bounced back from their bad loss at Brentford before the international break in style.
After a mixed start to his reign, the Spaniard is now entering a potentially defining run of games which will shape Chelsea’s season. This result and performance will fuel belief in the project.
Chelsea were in serious need of a response and got it with a dream start – and more early goals. There were just 65 seconds on the clock when 36-year-old Henderson whipped his first of the afternoon in off a post after good play by Cole Palmer, who had extended his Chelsea contract earlier in the day.
Henderson then turned provider when Morgan Rogers’ shot flicked off Antonio Silva and into the far corner. There had been just two minutes and 29 seconds played. It is the earliest Chelsea have ever been 2-0 up in a Premier League game.
Sleepy Bournemouth – who saw Rayan denied by a brilliant one-on-one stop from Emi Martinez just before the break – failed to learn their lesson and incredibly conceded a third just 30 seconds into the second half. Silva’s error allowed Pedro Neto to cut the ball back for fit-again Joao Pedro to slam in.
A set-piece scramble saw Evanilson block Moises Caicedo’s clearance into the Chelsea net to deny the leaky Blues a clean sheet and there was suddenly nervousness around the ground. But two more quickfire goals ended the contest.
Pep Chavarria’s cross for Joao Pedro to tap in his second of the afternoon was excellent. But Henderson’s free-kick goal was exquisite. With everyone expecting Palmer to take it on, the veteran midfielder instead produced another spectacular moment.
Alonso’s Chelsea may not be perfect. But they sure are exciting to watch.
More to follow…
The key moments from Stamford Bridge…
2: GOAL! It’s a perfect start for Chelsea and Henderson. Palmer makes progress into the box then cuts it back to the midfielder who whips a stunning shot in off the far post!
3: GOAL! Chelsea are in dreamland as a Rogers shot flicks off Silva and into the far corner. There’s a VAR check for offside on Joao Pedro, who was jostling with Silva but the goal stands!
6: WIDE! Rayan is played into the box by Marcus Tavernier but he lashes wastefully wide of the near post.
23: CLOSE! Henderson lobs a shot towards the far corner from the edge of the box but a deflection takes it narrowly wide.
Jordan Henderson embraces Morgan Rogers after giving Chelsea the lead
36: DOUBLE SAVE! Adrien Truffert curls a pass through for Rayan to run onto but Martinez dashes out and sticks out a left arm to block the one-on-one shot. Ryan Christie is onto the rebound 25 yards out but Martinez gets up quickly to stop the next one.
46: GOAL! Another lightning start from Chelsea! Just 30 seconds into the second half, Silva’s mistake allows Neto to cut the ball back for Joao Pedro to slam in Chelsea’s third!
51: GOAL! Bournemouth pull one back when Evanilson blocks Caicedo’s clearance into the net after a flicked-on corner causes chaos in the Chelsea six-yard box.
67: GOAL! Bournemouth were piling on the pressure but Rogers feeds Chavarria who punches a first-time pass across the face of goal for Joao Pedro to tuck in!
70: GOAL! Henderson bends a brilliant free-kick in from 25 yards after Palmer is hauled down. A sensational strike!
Story of the match in stats
What the result means and next fixtures…
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
