Chelsea go top after Hazard’s hat-trick

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Chelsea 3 Newcastle 0

The brilliant Eden Hazard scored a hat-trick as Chelsea stormed to the top of the Premier League.

Hazard opened the scoring on 27 minutes, turning nicely and finding Branislav Ivanovic before meeting the right-back’s low cross with a first-time shot into the bottom corner of the net.

He doubled the lead in brilliant fashion on the counter-attack seven minutes later, finishing coolly after a one-two with Samuel Eto’o.

And he netted again midway through the second half with a penalty after Eto’o had been fouled by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

With Arsenal having been trashed 5-1 at Liverpool earlier in the day, Manchester City only managing a goalless draw at Norwich meant Jose Mourinho’s men – now unbeaten in 10 league matches – moved to the summit.

With Frank Lampard captaining the side in place of the rested John Terry, they were largely dominant.

That said, Newcastle had their moments in the first half and keeper Petr Cech was called into action following Hazard’s first goal, saving at the feet of Moussa Sissoko after the Magpies midfielder had been put through by Davide Santon.

It proved to be a crucial save because Hazard made it 2-0 a minute later – and worse almost followed for Newcastle early in the second half.

Krul slipped over as he came to collect David Luiz’s long punt forward but, fortunately for the Dutchman, the ball drifted wide and Oscar was unable to reach it for what would have been a simple tap-in.

However, Krul was soon picking the ball out of the net again after Yanga-Mbiwa needlessly wrestled Eto’o to the floor at the far post following Lampard’s scuffed corner.

Hazard nonchalantly tucked away the resulting spot-kick – his 12th league goal of the season.

Recent signing Mohamed Salah was brought on for the final 12 minutes and had two chances to score on his Chelsea debut.

Salah dragged a shot wide after being found by fellow substitute Andre Schurrle and then fired straight at Krul after being set up by Oscar.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Matic, Lampard; Willian (Salah 78), Oscar, Hazard Schurrle 85); Eto’o (Ba 71).
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Cole, Mikel, Ramires.

 

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