Chelsea 1-1 Wolves: Eden Hazard strikes at the death to salvage a point for the Blues
Eden Hazard came to Chelsea’s rescue with a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves.The Blues were stunned by Raul Jimenez’s opener after the visitors pulled off a classic smash and grab, scoring with their first touch inside the opposition box.
3Hazard prevented an embarrassing defeatAnd it looked set to seal an astonishing victory after some heroic defending from Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, but they could do nothing to stop Hazard’s stunning strike in the second minute of stoppage time.With time running out, the Belgian took matters into his own hands by beating his man and curling into the bottom corner from 18 yards.Chelsea will still rue two dropped points in the race for the top four, following Spurs’ shock defeat to Southampton on Saturday.Maurizio Sarri’s side are now four points behind their London rivals in the four-way battle for third and fourth place which includes Arsenal and Manchester United, albeit with a game in hand.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had come from behind to beat the Blues at Molineux in December for the second Premier League loss of Sarri’s first season. The seventh-placed visitors were seeking to become the first promoted team to do the Premier League double over Chelsea since Charlton in 2000-01.Chelsea had looked like they had overcome their difficult spell which left Sarri clinging to his job.The 60-year-old Italian made six changes to the side which beat Dynamo Kiev 3-0 last Thursday in the Europa League last-16 first leg, with Hazard, Gonzalo Higuain and N’Golo Kante restored to the starting line-up.But the return of the big hitters did not yield instant results.Chelsea’s ponderous possession penned Wolves back, but the visitors were not unduly alarmed.The Blues had one shot on target in the first half, when Higuain’s effort was held by Rui Patricio at the near post.Chelsea also had two hopeful handball appeals. The first was when Leander Dendoncker blocked a Pedro cross and the next followed the resulting corner, when Jimenez sliced into his own arm, which was in a natural position.
3Jimenez put Wolves in frontFormer Chelsea strikers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Didier Drogba, watching from absent owner Roman Abramovich’s box, did not look entertained by Sarri’s side and there were muted whistles and boos at half-time.Hazard tried to spark Chelsea into life and was tripped by Matt Doherty. The initial contact was outside of the area and referee Michael Oliver blew for a free-kick despite the Belgian tumbling into the box. David Luiz’s set-piece was wasted.Wolves scored with their first attack of the game 11 minutes into the second half.Diogo Jota surged through a passive Chelsea defence and exchanged passes with Jimenez, whose poked shot deflected off Cesar Azpilicueta and bobbled in past Kepa Arrizabalaga.Chelsea sought an immediate reply. A Pedro shot from 25 yards was helped over by Patricio.From the resulting corner, Jimenez’s defensive header at the near post took the ball beyond Higuain’s reach at the far post, as Chelsea were frustrated again.
3Hazard’s finish was sublimeSarri had already sent on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi, for Mateo Kovacic and Pedro, when he took off Jorginho and sent on Willian.It was a departure from Sarri’s usual substitutions and was met with applause and a belated change in formation, to 4-4-2, once the messages were relayed.But even with Hudson-Odoi and Willian on the flanks and Hazard up front alongside Higuain, Chelsea struggled to find openings.Willian cut in from the left and was denied by Patricio before Hazard did similar in the second minute of stoppage time.Hazard stepped by Ruben Neves and drilled in a swerving shot from the edge of the area to save Chelsea’s blushes.
Sunday, 10 March 2019 Eden Hazard came to Chelsea's rescue with a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves. The Blues were stunned by Raul Jimenez's opener after the visitors pulled off a classic smash and grab, scoring with their first touch inside the opposition box.
Chelsea 1-1 Wolves: Last-gasp Eden Hazard strike salvages a point
Chelsea vs Wolves result: Five things we learned as Eden Hazard saves Blues with stunning stoppage time strike. Five things we learned: The Belgian's late effort denied Nuno's side a double over
Chelsea salvage draw as late Eden Hazard strike denies Wolves
Chelsea 1-1 Wolves: Better late than never as last-gasp Eden Hazard strike salvages a point however Blues squander glorious chance to close on top four
Chelsea salvage draw as late Eden Hazard strike denies Wolves
Chelsea salvage draw as late Eden Hazard strike denies Wolves The Belgium playmaker scored in added time as the Blues earned a share of the spoils at Stamford Bridge.
Wolves were cruelly denied at the death as Chelsea earned what may yet be a crucial point in the race for the Premier League's top four. Eden Hazard's last-gasp strike rescued a 1-1 draw and
Chelsea 1 Wolves 1: Last-gasp Hazard strike rescues Blues
Chelsea 1-1 Wolves: Eden Hazard strikes at the death to
Chelsea 1-1 Wolves: Eden Hazard strikes at the death to salvage a point for the Blues The visitors nearly sealed a remarkable smash and grab victory before the Belgian's stunning last-gasp
Chelsea 1-1 Wolves: Eden Hazard strikes at the death to
Chelsea 1 Wolves 1: Last-gasp Hazard strike rescues Blues Wolves were cruelly denied at the death as Chelsea earned what may yet be a crucial point in the race for the Premier League's top four.
Chelsea 1-1 Wolves REPORT: Late Eden Hazard equaliser saves
Headline Chelsea salvage draw as late Eden Hazard strike denies Wolves late Eden Hazard strike denies Wolves. to earn a point on Chelsea's 114th birthday. The Blues had beaten Tottenham
Chelsea 1 Wolves 1: Last-gasp Hazard strike rescues Blues
Eden Hazard's last-gasp strike rescued a 1-1 draw and potentially salvaged Chelsea's top-four ambitions in a lacklustre showing against Wolves on Sunday. The home team was staring down the barrel of a costly defeat courtesy of Raul Jimenez's textbook counter-attacking goal in the second half.
Chelsea vs Wolves: Five things we learned as Eden Hazard
FT: Chelsea 1-1 Wolves. All over at Stamford Bridge and the Blues have rescued a point. Eden Hazard's strike earns them a share of the spoils after they stared defeat in the face.
Chelsea 1 Wolves 1: Last-gasp Hazard strike rescues Blues
0 Comments