Hazard inspires Chelsea to victory
Chelsea 3 Newcastle 1
The outstanding Eden Hazard scored twice as Chelsea came from behind to win at Stamford Bridge.
Dwight Gayle gave Newcastle an early lead before Hazard equalised and Alvaro Morata put Chelsea ahead – the striker’s 10th goal of the season.
Hazard netted again in the second half, this time from the penalty spot, to seal a resounding Blues win.
Gayle’s 12th-minute goal came as a result of the striker nudging Andreas Christensen off the ball and then putting Marcos Alonso under similar pressure.
Thibaut Courtois had to sprint from his line to prevent Jacob Murphy capitalising on Alonso’s weak back-pass – and Gayle was then on hand to slot into an unguarded net.
Chelsea responded with a barrage of pressure and Christensen headed N’Golo Kante’s cross against the post before Hazard eventually equalised on 21 minutes.
Defender Florian Lejeune stretched to prevent Cesar Azpilicueta’s long ball reaching Morata, but that teed up Hazard, whose shot bounced up off the ground and over keeper Karl Darlow.
Morata struck 12 minutes later, heading home Victor Moses’ right-wing cross from close range.
Matt Ritchie gave the ball to Moses in the build up to that goal and conceded a penalty by bringing him down with 16 minutes remaining.
Hazard calmly tucked away the spot-kick. Third-placed Chelsea have now won six and drawn one of their last seven league games.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen (Cahill 80), Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Drinkwater, Fabregas (Bakayoko 78), Alonso; Hazard (Willian 78), Morata.
Subs not used: Caballero, Zappacosta, Pedro, Batshuayi.
