CHELSEA secured a sixth straight Premier League win to move up to second as the in-form Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic struck to beat Crystal Palace 2-0 yesterday.
Abraham ended Palace’s dogged defensive resistence with a simple finish from Willian’s deft through ball seven minutes into the second half, before Pulisic headed home a loose ball 11 minutes from time to seal all three points.
Chelsea edge a point clear of Manchester City and to within five of leaders Liverpool, who host City in a highly-anticipated clash tonight.
A 4-4 draw with Ajax on Tuesday took the tally of goals Chelsea’s prior 18 games this season to 70 at an average of nearly four per game.
However, the Blues’ free flowing football under Frank Lampard was met with a brick wall of a Palace defence for the first 45 minutes.
Pulisic had scored four goals in his last two Premier League games as the American begins to deliver on his £58 million ($74 million) price tag and only a fine save from Vicente Guaita denied the USA captain another strike early on.
Thereafter, Chelsea were largely restricted to efforts from free-kicks on the edge of the box before the break as Willian curled inches wide.
Gary Cahill was making his return to Stamford Bridge after his seven years as a Chelsea player came to an end in the summer.
And Cahill reminded his former employers of why he won eight trophies for the club with a brilliant block to repel Willian’s goalbound effort in first half stoppage time.
The Palace resistance was finally broken by one moment of genius from Willian as Chelsea’s captain for the day flicked the ball perfectly into Abraham’s path to slot home his 11th goal of the season.
Pulisic tested Guaita again with a rising drive. Shortly after that, the Spaniard did brilliantly to tip over. — AFP
Instead, at the other end, Pulisic finally got the goal his performance deserved by following up after Michy Batshuayi’s shot had been blocked to nod past a helpless Guaita.
Meanwhile, Watford enjoyed their first Premier League win of the season as goals from Gerard Deulofeu and substitute Andre Gray gave them a 2-0 win at Norwich City in a bottom-of-the-table game late on Friday night.
The result lifted Watford two places to 18th on eight points from 12 games while promoted Norwich, who last won in September when they upset champions Manchester City 3-2 at Carrow Road, dropped to the foot of the table on seven points.
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores acknowledged the early goal was crucial and praised the London club’s long-suffering fans for their unwavering support.
“You score early and the team becomes more strong and more solid,” he told Sky Sports.
“I think for us the first feeling is that it is something special for the fans. We wanted to dedicate it to the fans because they have supported us for a long time.”
Talking of the victory drought, keeper Ben Foster added: “It’s been a while, near six months, it’s ridiculous. There’s only so long you can say it’s going to come and we’re so glad it has come tonight.”
Deulofeu fired the visitors into a second-minute lead when he robbed Emiliano Bouendia of the ball at the halfway line, cut inside a defender and drove a crisp low shot past Tim Krul.
Gray, who came on for the injured Roberto Pereyra on the half-hour mark, had a shot blocked in the 33rd minute before Bouendia blazed his effort high and wide at the other end.
Spaniard Deulofeu then turned provider in the 52nd minute when he got a cross in at the second attempt and Gray’s deflected back-heel beat Krul at the near post to double Watford’s advantage.
The visitors had defender Christian Kabasele sent off midway through the second half for a second booking but still looked dangerous on the break as Norwich failed to create chances.