Chelsea 4-2 Southampton: Highlights and Recap

Chelsea beat Southampton 4-2 in the Premier League on Tuesday, April 25. Here are all the highlights from the match.

Chelsea shook off their Premier League defeat to Manchester United a week and a half ago with an emphatic FA Cup semifinal win against Tottenham on Saturday.

That victory may or may not have delivered a psychological blow in a suddenly close title race, the Blues still needed to get back on track in the league.

They got off to an excellent start against Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, with Eden Hazard scoring with a sweeping, first-time shot into the bottom corner in the fifth minute.

The Saints responded impressively, however, with Sofiane Boufal, Manolo Gabbiadini and Dusan Tadic combining to dangerous effect up top.

Southampton equalized in the 19th minute, when Gabbiadini, left unmarked at the back post by some unfocused Chelsea defending, passed to Oriol Romeu for a simple finish.

The Blues took a 2-1 lead shortly before halftime, when Southampton failed to deal with a set piece and Marco Alonso’s cushioned header was finished bravely by Gary Cahill.

The late first-half goal proved to be the winner. Diego Costa made it three for Chelsea early in the second half, heading in from a Cesc Fabregas cross, ending the game as a contest.

Costa scored another in the 89th minute after some wonderful build up play involving Hazard and Pedro to put the icing on what looked like an emphatic win for Chelsea, though the gloss was taken off the win somewhat when Ryan Bertrand headed in a late consolation.

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Highlights

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points. That could move back down to four on Wednesday, however, if Tottenham beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Southampton remain ninth, but could fall to as low as 13th if other results go against them on Wednesday.