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| Chelsea 1 Swansea City 3 |
The damage was done before the break at Aldershot. Swansea striker Oli McBurnie opened the scoring midway through the half with a back-post header, and within 14 minutes he had completed his hat-trick with a pair of clinical finishes.
The Blues had chances to get back in it after the interval but found the visitors’ keeper Erwin Mulder in good form, until Hazard scored from close range immediately after coming on for his debut.
It provided a moment of positivity on an otherwise frustrating night for the young Blues. Next up for them is another home PL2 fixture against West Ham a week on Sunday.
The opening quarter-of-an-hour passed more or less without incident as both sides enjoyed good spells of possession without threatening in the final third. The only moment of concern for the Blues came when Dujon Sterling went down in some pain off the ball and required treatment. Happily, he was okay to continue.
On 20 minutes, Adeboyejo headed Reece James’s fierce right-wing cross narrowly over with the first effort on goal of the evening (above). Trevoh Chalobah had started the move with a fine crossfield ball from deep.
But five minutes later it was the visitors
took the lead. Jordan Garrick got played into space down the right and
he delivered an excellent cross to the far post which was met powerfully
by McBurnie who guided his header past Cumming.
The Scottish striker nearly doubled his and Swansea’s tally
immediately but volleyed a presentable chance over. He didn’t have to
wait long for goal number two, however, as he burst onto a pass on the
edge of the box and slotted past the helpless Cumming.
McBurnie could have completed his hat-trick earlier but half-volleyed a difficult chance over. And then on 36 minutes, Chalobah got a crucial block in to divert Daniel James’s goalbound effort wide after the winger had raced down the left.
The Swans were well on top now and didn’t have to wait long for a third. George Byers broke at speed down the middle and picked out McBurnie in a bit of space to his left. The confidence of the striker was plain to see as he curled a sumptuous, first-time strike across Cumming into the top right-hand corner.
It epitomised a half-hour period the visitors had dominated leading to the break.
Play restarted with a change of shape and personnel made by Joe Edwards. Cole Dasilva replaced St Clair, and Chalobah advanced into midfield with Maddox moving closer to Adeboyejo.
The striker should have reduced the deficit five minutes into the half but blasted over when McCormick’s cross was diverted into his path by the sliding Cian Harries.
Our no.10 then drew a fine low stop from the experienced Erwin Mulder after a ricochet fell his way. Swansea countered through Dan James and he nearly finished the move he started, but Grant got a crucial clearance in to cut out McBurnie’s dangerous cross.
McBurnie could have completed his hat-trick earlier but half-volleyed a difficult chance over. And then on 36 minutes, Chalobah got a crucial block in to divert Daniel James’s goalbound effort wide after the winger had raced down the left.
The Swans were well on top now and didn’t have to wait long for a third. George Byers broke at speed down the middle and picked out McBurnie in a bit of space to his left. The confidence of the striker was plain to see as he curled a sumptuous, first-time strike across Cumming into the top right-hand corner.
It epitomised a half-hour period the visitors had dominated leading to the break.
Play restarted with a change of shape and personnel made by Joe Edwards. Cole Dasilva replaced St Clair, and Chalobah advanced into midfield with Maddox moving closer to Adeboyejo.
The striker should have reduced the deficit five minutes into the half but blasted over when McCormick’s cross was diverted into his path by the sliding Cian Harries.
Our no.10 then drew a fine low stop from the experienced Erwin Mulder after a ricochet fell his way. Swansea countered through Dan James and he nearly finished the move he started, but Grant got a crucial clearance in to cut out McBurnie’s dangerous cross.
Midway through the half, Reece James
(above) tried his luck from 20 yards after intercepting a pass, and it
required a fine diving stop from Mulder to palm the right-back’s effort
wide.
With a quarter-of-an-hour to go Hazard was brought on for his first development squad
appearance since joining, and barely 60 seconds later he had found the
net. Maddox crossed deep to Chalobah, who was up for a corner, and his
header was palmed into Hazard’s path by Mulder. The Belgian couldn’t miss and marked his first touch in a Chelsea shirt with his first goal.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Jamie Cumming; Reece James, Joseph Colley, Trevoh Chalobah, Josh Grant (Kylian Hazard 76); Ruben Sammut (c), Jacob Maddox; Dujon Sterling, Luke McCormick, Harvey St Clair (Cole Dasilva h/t); Victor Adeboyejo (Miro Muheim 83).
Scorer Hazard 76
Unused subs Marcin Bulka, Richard Nartey.
Booked James 33, Sammut 66
Swansea Erwin Mulder, Trialist, Aaron Lewis, Adnan Maric (Adam King 81), Cian Harries, Joe Rodon (c), Daniel James, Jay Fulton, Oli McBurnie (Courtney Baker-Richardson 90+4), George Byers, Jordan Garrick (Kenji Gorre 74).
Unused subs Gregor Zabret, Tyler Reid.
Scorer McBurnie 25, 29, 39
Booked Fulton 43
Referee Alan Dale
Highlights Video
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