Close Menu
Chronicle.ng
    Trending Stories
    Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

    JUST IN: Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

    July 3, 2025
    Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and former presidential candidate, claims that all opposition parties in Nigeria, with the exception of his African Action Congress, are influenced and controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Sowore calls Atiku, El-Rufai’s ADC ‘a coalition of past criminals’

    July 3, 2025
    How ADC collapsed under Obasanjo-led coalition before 2019 elections

    How ADC collapsed under Obasanjo-led coalition before 2019 elections

    July 3, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • JUST IN: Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash
    • Sowore calls Atiku, El-Rufai’s ADC ‘a coalition of past criminals’
    • How ADC collapsed under Obasanjo-led coalition before 2019 elections
    • Truck crushes police officer to death at Ogun checkpoint
    • Baltasar Engonga, former E’Guinea anti-corruption chief with over 400 sextapes faces 18-year jail term
    • ADC will dismantle party that kept Nigerians in poverty, insecurity – Obi
    • Onanuga slams ADC defectors, labels coalition a gathering of “desperados”
    • Obi joins forces with Aregbesola, Mark as ADC becomes coalition’s 2027 election platform
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Chronicle.ngChronicle.ng
    Subscribe
    Thursday, July 3
    • News
      • Nigeria News
      • World News
      • Headlines News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Entertainment
    • Contact Us
    Chronicle.ng

    Chelsea retain top four as Watford slump

    Chronicle EditorBy Chronicle EditorJuly 4, 20202 Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Telegram WhatsApp
    Olivier Giroud scored the winner as Chelsea beat Wolves 2-0 at Stamford Bridge
    Olivier Giroud scored the winner as Chelsea beat Wolves 2-0 at Stamford Bridge
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp

    Chelsea boosted their Champions League qualification hopes with a comfortable 3-0 win over Premier League strugglers Watford.

    The result lifts the Blues back up to fourth in the table, after they were temporarily leapfrogged by Manchester United.

    Nigel Pearson’s side remain a point above the relegation zone but have played a game more than Aston Villa, who travel to Liverpool on Sunday (16:30 BST).

    Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for the Blues, latching on to Ross Barkley’s clever pass and steering a left-foot shot into the bottom right corner.

    While Watford worked hard to contain the hosts they offered little to suggest they were capable of a first win at Stamford Bridge since 1986.

    And they fell further behind before the break, with Etienne Capoue’s rash challenge on Christian Pulisic resulting in a Chelsea penalty that Willian duly converted.

    Thereafter it was relatively plain sailing for Frank Lampard’s side, who rounded off the scoring when Barkley found the top left corner from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross.

    The Blues have now won three of their four games since the top flight resumed in June.

    • Saka scores as Arsenal beat Wolves

    Chelsea regain mojo and top four place

    Manchester United’s thumping victory against Bournemouth had seen Chelsea drop out of the top four places for the first time since 26 October.

    But this was the perfect response from Frank Lampard’s side who were brimming with energy throughout and appeared galvanised by Wednesday’s lacklustre defeat at West Ham.

    The Blues made four changes to their starting XI and looked considerably more assured defensively while Willian – who scored a penalty in his third consecutive game – Barkley and Pulisic provided the thrust going forward.

    England midfielder Barkley was particularly impressive, demanding the ball in tight areas and then restricting his number of touches to get out of trouble and maintain Chelsea’s attacking momentum.

    Chelsea’s opener was the perfect example as he controlled and swivelled away from a defender in one movement and then sliced open the Watford defence with his next touch.

    Barkley, who played more attacking passes (47) than any of Chelsea’s other front six players, also capped a fine individual performance with his first Premier League goal of the campaign late on.

    Watford’s worrying lack of goals

    After meekly losing to Southampton last Sunday, manager Nigel Pearson had called for his side to produce a performance that “better represented” them.

    And his players initially responded with a committed and gritty show, albeit one that lacked the quality to suggest they were ever going to trouble their hosts.

    There was no lack of application. Pearson’s side collectively ran almost 5km more than their higher-placed opponents – it was simply a gulf in class.

    But they were also guilty of moments of carelessness in possession, such as when Capoue presented Chelsea with an easy opportunity to double their advantage.

    Danny Welbeck’s introduction in the second half did provide them with some pace and quality in the final third but it was too little too late.

    Welbeck wriggled into several promising positions and forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into a superb save late on, but it was one of very few moments that would have excited any Watford supporters watching at home.

    And it was a performance indicative of a side, if you discount Jan Bednarek’s own goal, that has failed to score in three consecutive defeats and is now anxiously looking over its shoulder at their relegation rivals.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Telegram WhatsApp

    Keep Reading

    Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

    JUST IN: Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

    Joao Pedro joins Chelsea on a £60m deal from Brighton

    Joao Pedro joins Chelsea in a £60m deal from Brighton

    Ademola Lookman presents CAF POTY award to cheering Atlanta fans

    Lookman worth over €30m, Atalanta insist

    Guirassy double fires Dortmund past Monterrey into Club World Cup quarter-final

    Guirassy double fires Dortmund past Monterrey into Club World Cup quarter-final

    Gonzalo Garcia heads Real Madrid into Club World Cup quarter-finals

    Gonzalo Garcia heads Real Madrid into Club World Cup quarter-finals

    Tammy Abraham scored Roma's opener from the penalty spot

    Tammy Abraham set for Besiktas move as Turkish giants confirm transfer talks

    View 2 Comments
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Subscribe to News

    Be the first to get the latest news updates from ChronicleNG about world, sports, politics etc

    Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

    JUST IN: Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

    July 3, 2025
    Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and former presidential candidate, claims that all opposition parties in Nigeria, with the exception of his African Action Congress, are influenced and controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Sowore calls Atiku, El-Rufai’s ADC ‘a coalition of past criminals’

    July 3, 2025
    How ADC collapsed under Obasanjo-led coalition before 2019 elections

    How ADC collapsed under Obasanjo-led coalition before 2019 elections

    July 3, 2025
    Police rescue abducted Benue Links passengers

    Truck crushes police officer to death at Ogun checkpoint

    July 3, 2025
    Equatorial Guinea sacks Baltazar Engonga as ANIF boss over sex scandal

    Baltasar Engonga, former E’Guinea anti-corruption chief with over 400 sextapes faces 18-year jail term

    July 3, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Politics
    • News
    • Sports
    • Business
    • About Us
    © 2025 ChronicleNG

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.