Eden Hazard extends Chelsea’s perfect start with hat-trick against Cardiff

Posted Sunday, September 16, 2018 by PA

Eden Hazard’s hat-trick extended Chelsea’s perfect start to five matches as a 4-1 win over Cardiff sent the Blues top of the Premier League.

The Belgium forward spared Chelsea’s blushes to drag Maurizio Sarri’s men to victory, after Sol Bamba had shocked the west Londoners by flicking Cardiff into the lead.

Hazard’s virtuoso performance proved a study in clinical finishing. Two chances, two goals – the game first rescued and then won, and all in just seven first-half minutes.

.@hazardeden10 today… 🔥 🔥🔥#CHECAR pic.twitter.com/sKKhUO7aGy
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 15, 2018

His joyful penalty 10 minutes from time then furnished the 27-year-old master craftsman with the match ball, before Willian walloped home a fine fourth.

Where Spain star Pedro could only hustle and bustle without finding the target – spurning four openings, two of those gilt-edged – Hazard delivered on demand, and with equal parts panache and precision to boot.

The 94-cap playmaker already has five goals in as many league games this season, and appears to only have eyes for more.

Olivier Giroud laid on Hazard’s first two goals, as the France target man continues to refine a potent partnership with his team-mate.

New boss Sarri became just the fourth Premier League manager to win his first five fixtures in the division, following in the footsteps of Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Craig Shakespeare.

3 – This is the third time in English top-flight history, and first time in 110 years, that two clubs have won their opening five games of the season (1905-06 and 1908-09). Antique.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 15, 2018

The Blues top the table on goal difference from Liverpool, who also boast a 100 per cent return from five matches.

Cardiff must merit some praise for exposing Chelsea’s defensive shortcomings that have already had new manager Sarri admitting they must tighten up, and fast.

Bamba clipped home a training-ground move that had newly-promoted Cardiff dreaming of an upset, only to fall prey to Hazard’s genius.

Neil Warnock has stitched together a team of graft and enterprise, but competent organisation and smart set-pieces rarely prove sufficient for Premier League survival these days.

Cardiff’s scaremongering in truth lasted little more than half an hour. Sarri has been candid about Chelsea’s defensive frailties, and those shortcomings were exposed in full when Bamba handed the visitors the shock lead.

Official Attendance at Stamford Bridge: 40,499!
Thank you to the sold-out away end for your support! Pride of South Wales! 👏#CHECAR #CityAsOne 🔵⚽️🔵⚽️ pic.twitter.com/A9NrapP6ob
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) September 15, 2018

Captain Sean Morrison crept free and headed a lofted free-kick across goal, with defender Bamba nipping in front of the cover to flick home with a poacher’s finish.

Bamba pointed out and then raced straight for assistant manager Kevin Blackwell on the Cardiff bench, clearly the architect of this training-ground ruse made good.

A shaken Chelsea set about their recovery through the tentative steps of Mateo Kovacic botching two one-on-one situations.

Pedro whipped an effort just wide, skinned Harry Arter all ends up to loft a chip just over the bar – and then blazed high and wide when unmarked on the penalty spot.

And then came Hazard. Cardiff simply had no answers once the Belgian artisan hit his creative best.

Perfection from the penalty spot! 🎯 @hazardeden10
4-1 [90''] #CHECAR pic.twitter.com/3ed93ijyQl
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 15, 2018

Racing on to World Cup-winner Giroud’s flick, Hazard scampered past Joe Bennett and drilled home the leveller.

Then just seven minutes later Giroud’s telescopic stretch redirected Pedro’s low cross into the onrushing Hazard’s path, and the 27-year-old delivered once more.

Pedro went close twice more once Chelsea discovered some second-half urgency just past the hour.

Bobby Reid blasted just wide for Cardiff in another reminder of Chelsea’s brittle defensive set-up, but the Blues cared not.

Hazard swept home his hat-trick goal from the penalty spot after a clear foul from Bamba, before Willian ghosted through and unleashed an unstoppable finish.