Willian wins it for Chelsea after Newcastle threaten comeback

Posted Sunday, January 13, 2019 by PA

Willian’s sublime strike earned Chelsea a 2-1 victory over spirited Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.

Pedro’s ninth-minute lob saw the Magpies trailing, but Ciaran Clark headed in a deserved equaliser before half-time.

The Blues had plenty of chances, but only prevailed when Willian curled in a decisive second, following another assist by Eden Hazard, who was again deployed as Chelsea’s ‘false nine’.

Back to winning ways! 🙌
Goals from @_Pedro17_ and @willianborges88 ensure the three points belong to Chelsea today! ⚽️⚽️ #CHENEW pic.twitter.com/g2e7wvyc2F
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 12, 2019

Goalscoring remains an issue for Chelsea, who faced the prospect of a third top-flight home game without scoring for the first time since November 1993, but finished the day with a six-point advantage over fifth-placed Arsenal.

Newcastle appeared to be the ideal opponents to end the lean streak, having won one of their past eight league games.

Newcastle, watched by owner Mike Ashley for the first time since mid-November, were in the relegation zone by the 5.30pm kick-off.

The line-ups illustrated the disparity in resources, but Maurizio Sarri’s decision to stick with Hazard as his attacking focal point could have been interpreted as a message in his search for a new striker.

Willian wins it for Chelsea after Newcastle threaten comeback — Pedro scored the opener with a lobbed finish (Nick Potts/PA)

Alvaro Morata was absent for a second successive game amid suggestions of a departure before the end of the January transfer window, while Olivier Giroud was on the bench alongside Callum Hudson-Odoi. The 18-year-old winger has been linked with a big money move to Bayern Munich.

The strikerless Blues led when David Luiz’s 50-yard pass found Pedro, whose run eluded Clark. The Spaniard lifted the ball over Martin Dubravka, with the goalkeeper in no man’s land.

The Magpies went close with the direct route. Salomon Rondon flicked on Dubravka’s long kick for Ayoze Perez, who drilled a low shot just wide.

Newcastle levelled after 40 minutes. Matt Ritchie’s corner was met by Clark, who leaped above Luiz to direct a powerful header into the bottom corner.

Chelsea came close to restoring their advantage from the restart, but Willian passed wide following Jorginho’s lofted through ball. He should have scored.

Pedro spurned two straightforward chances early in the second half, before Hazard, who had been a peripheral figure, created Chelsea’s second.

The Belgian sucked in four defenders before feeding Willian, who checked inside from the left side of the area and curled the ball inside the far post.

It was Willian’s first Premier League goal since October and his third of the season, equalling defender Clark’s tally.

10+ – Eden Hazard (10 goals and 10 assists) is one of two players in the Top 5 European Leagues to have both scored and assisted 10 or more goals in league play this season – the other is Lionel Messi (16 goals and 10 assists). Phenom. pic.twitter.com/5F1ZWFiYi5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 12, 2019