Chelsea scored three first-half goals for the second Premier League away game running to ease past Southampton in Sunday's clash.
2019/2020 Premier League
1-4
Match Report
Another win, and another textbook example of why trusting in youth can yield results. Frank Lampard's Chelsea brushed aside Southampton at St Mary's with Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount once again shining in the senior ranks.
Chelsea dominated from the outset and took the lead when Abraham's looping finish from Callum Hudson-Odoi's pass was adjudged to have crossed the line before Maya Yoshida's intervention.
Mason Mount doubled the Blues' lead from close range, before Danny Ings poked home Yan Valery's cut-back to reduce the arrears.
The visitors restored their two-goal advantage five minutes before half-time, N'Golo Kante's strike from the edge of the area taking a wicked deflection off Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on its way past Angus Gunn.
Two second-half substitutes combined to set up Chelsea's fourth, Michy Batshuayi slotting home Christian Pulisic's through-ball to put the seal on a comfortable victory for Frank Lampard's side.
The result leaves struggling Southampton in 16th place - just one point above the relegation zone.
Match Events
1' CLOSE! Redmond's shot over the bar
Hojbjerg works the ball to Redmond 25 yards from goal and the winger goes for goal with a crisp right-footed strike. He connects well with the shot, but it sails just over the bar.
11' SAVE! Abraham's shot saved
Hudson-Odoi collects in the final third and offloads towards Abraham on the edge of the box. He takes one touch to move the ball on his left foot before striking towards the left bottom corner, but Gunn gets down to make the save.
17' GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Chelsea (Abraham)
A simple ball over the top from Hudson-Odoi releases the forward. Gunn rushes off his line to try to get there ahead of Abraham. However, he hooks it towards the target and it travels over the line despite the best efforts of Yoshida covering back. The goal was given by the technology on the wrist of referee Paul Tierney.
24' GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Chelsea (Mount)
Chelsea capitalise on a defensive error from Bednarek as Mount smashes the ball home. The Southampton defender tries to send a deft header out from the back. Willian pounces and combines with Hudson-Odoi to release Mount into the box. The midfielder hold his composure to blast his strike past Gunn from six yards.
30' GOAL! Southampton 1-2 Chelsea (Ings)
The Saints get one goal back as Ings steers home from close range. Valery opens up the Chelsea defence down the right flank, weaving his way through four players. He fires a low ball across the face of goal where Ings gets ahead of Zouma to divert his strike past Kepa.
40' GOAL! Southampton 1-3 Chelsea (Kante)
The Blues regain their two-goal cushion as Kante's blast is deflected past Gunn by Bednarek. Alonso has the freedom of the left flank and he raids forward. He cuts his pass back to Kante on the edge of the box. He lines up a strike on his right foot that hits Bednarek and wrong-foots Gunn to find the right side of the net.
49' WHAT A CHANCE! Hudson-Odoi's shot saved
Gunn keeps Southampton in the game with a vital save to deny Hudson-Odoi. Willian releases the winger into space down the left flank and he cuts inside to shoot low towards the right bottom corner. However, Gunn sticks out a leg and diverts it wide of the target.
89' GOAL! Southampton 1-4 Chelsea (Batshuayi)
Chelsea have their fourth goal as Batshuayi provides a clinical finish with his left foot. He combines with Pulisic in the final third as the American releases his run with a fine pass with the outside of his boot. Batshuayi holds his composure to drill his strike through the legs of Gunn into the net.
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