Chelsea 3-0 Watford
If ever there was a game of two halves this was it! Chelsea’s critical Premier League clash at home to Watford ended in a big home win, but at half time that looked highly unlikely.
Yesterday’s Premier League 2019 results threw up a big surprise with Spurs losing at Bournemouth, which meant a win today would lift Chelsea to third in the table. But that seemed to be lost on Maurizio Sarri’s team who did little to impress in the first 45.
But in the second half they blew the Hornets away with two quick goals immediately after the break, and a third late on courtesy of Gonzalo Higuain. Watford played superbly in the first period, but their minds seemed to be drifting towards the FA Cup final in the second. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s qualification for next years Champions League was almost confirmed and would be if Arsenal failed to beat Brighton in the late kick-off.
Highlights of the game
Chelsea’s hard-fought draw away to Manchester United last week put the Blues’ destiny in their own hands, but in a first half largely dominated by the visitors, it didn’t appear they were ready to take it. The pre-match SBOBET odds pointed to a comfortable home win, but you wouldn’t have thought it as the visitors bossed their hosts from the off. Gerard Deulofeu has been an inspired signing for Watford and he whistled a shot from 25 yards just inches wide of Kepa’s post.
That woke the Chelsea keeper up, and on eight minutes he pulled off a spectacular save to deny the busy Hornets. Troy Deeney got his head to a cross and it looked to be looping towards the top corner but somehow Kepa arched back to claw the ball away.
Watford’s Will Hughes was dominating the midfield as the visitors continued to enjoy the upper hand, and Jose Holebas got into a good position but blazed his shot over, and then Abdoulaye Doucoure had an effort just wide.
Finally, Chelsea began to get into the game and the Blues had a decent penalty shout on the half hour. Higuain crossed to the back post and David Luiz fell under pressure from Kiko Femenia but the ref was having none of it, and boos rang around Stamford Bridge as the hosts trooped off for the break.
With the home fans’ anger ringing in their ears, Chelsea clearly had plenty to ponder at half time; and they certainly seemed to have worked something out as they went two ahead within five minutes of the restart.
The first goal wasn’t a classic by any means. Eden Hazard won a corner with a lovely piece of play; and when the cross floated over, the Watford defence just stood and watched as Ruben Loftus-Cheek nodded home unchallenged.
The second came from a corner too, but this time David Luiz met the cross powerfully giving Ben Foster no chance at all and that was game over.
Chelsea was a different team now from the disappointing outfit of the first half, and Foster kept the score down to two when he made a superb save from Higuain’s well-struck half volley. But the Argentine got his reward on 75 minutes in a goal which showed the Blues at their clinical best. Pedro picked out Higuain who evaded the defender and chipped deftly over the Watford keeper.
Key Statistics
The Hornets have struggled against the top six sides all season and they looked likely to buck that trend in the first half, but by the final whistle, they were well beaten as the hosts had 58 per cent possession and nine shots on target to Watford’s three.
That’s the sixth defeat in 10 games for Javi Gracia’s team, and they have only taken three points from the last 12 games against top six teams.
The Premier League 2019 odds have pitched Chelsea in the top four all season, and now that looks exactly where they are going to finish.
What’s next?
Chelsea has a Europa League second leg tie on Thursday against Frankfurt, a game they should win to make the final, and then the Blues conclude the Premier League season with a trip to Leicester. If they still need a point that could be quite a test.
Watford has a home match against West Ham to finish the season. But the Hornets’ thoughts are already on the 18th May when they’ll take part in the FA Cup final. That will be an occasion their fans will never forget, and if they can somehow beat the hot favourites, Manchester City, this team will go into Watford folklore.
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