Football news - Alvaro Morata seals Chelsea win over Hungarian champions Vidi
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ByEurosport
Updated 04/10/2018 at 21:48 GMT
Europa League Group L, Stamford Bridge – Chelsea 1 (Morata 70) MOL Vidi FC 0
Alvaro Morata celebrates
Image credit: Getty Images
Alvaro Morata ended his goal-drought with his first European goal since September 2017 as Chelsea narrowly overcame resilient Mol Vidi in Group L of the Europa League.
The Spaniard was enduring a barren spell having netted only once in his last 17 appearances and had squandered another couple of chances here as Chelsea struggled to break down their Hungarian visitors.
It looked like it was going to be another frustrating evening for the former Real Madrid striker until the 70th minute when Willian flicked a header into his path and he finished instinctively to win the game for Chelsea.
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Maurizio Sarri, Manager of Chelsea looks on during the UEFA Europa League Group L match between Chelsea and Vidi FC at Stamford Bridge on October 4, 2018 in London, United Kingdom
Image credit: Getty Images
There was relief all around Stamford Bridge when Morata grabbed his goal and Chelsea looked like they had opened the floodgates but substitute Ross Barkley struck the woodwork to set up a tense finale.
And the Blues had Kepa Arrizabalaga to thank late on when the Spanish shot-stopper denied Istvan Kovacs with a brilliant save.
The victory keeps Chelsea top of the group after two games. The Blues play BATE next on October 25.
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Ross Barkley of Chelsea takes on Istvan Kovacs of MOL Vidi FC during the UEFA Europa League Group L match between Chelsea and Vidi FC at Stamford Bridge on October 4, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Will Morata kick on from here? The Spaniard's overall performance wasn't great in all honesty. He missed too many chances, was booked for remonstrating with the referee and generally appeared miserable. But one moment of quality decided the game. Now he has the monkey off his back will he kick on from here? Gianfranco Zola has been working closely with the striker to help him overcome this difficult period, but the sooner he hits a bit of form the better for Chelsea; the Blues cannot rely on one striker this season.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Pedro (Chelsea): For a player just coming back from injury the Spaniard was remarkably sharp. Constantly finding space between the visitors' defence and midfield, Pedro slipped a number of clever passes into the front-line.
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Pedro of Chelsea passes the ball under pressure from Anel Hadzic of MOL Vidi FC during the UEFA Europa League Group L match between Chelsea and Vidi FC at Stamford Bridge on October 4, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Chelsea: Kepa 7, Zappacosta 6, Cahill 6, Christensen 6, Emerson 7, Fabregas 6, Kovacic 6, Loftus-Cheek 7, Pedro 8, Willian 7, Morata 6. Subs: Barkley 7, Moses 5, Hazard 7.
MOL Vidi: Tujvel 7, Fiola 6, Juhasz 8, Vinicius 6, Stopira 6, Hadzic 6, Nego 7, Nikolov 6, Huszti 6, Milanov 6, Scepovic 6. Subs: Patkai 5, Kovacs 5, Hodzic 5.
KEY MOMENTS
16' - MORATA MISSES! He is making a habit of this, isn't he? For a man of his quality Morata has to score here. Perfectly timing his run to latch onto Pedro's through-ball he proceeds to chip the ball wide of the goal with just the goalkeeper to beat.
39' - NO PENALTY! Loftus-Cheek is upended inside the penalty area after a brilliant run but the referee is well positioned and ignores the strong Chelsea appeals. They had a strong case...
42' - PENALTY APPEAL! Cahill, who is the last man, looks to have clipped Nikolov who goes to ground. Chelsea get away with it. Again, it looks like a stone-wall foul but the referee Miroslav Zelinka is unmoved.
70' - GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Mol Vidi: MORATA! Just when you thought it wasn't going to be his night! Fabregas picks out Willian with a lovely ball over the top and the Brazilian flicks it into Morata's path who finishes instinctively. That will do his confidence the world of good.
76' - CROSSBAR! Chelsea win a free-kick on the left. It's floated in by Hazard and Barkley rises highest. His header looks destined for the top corner but it cannons agonisingly off the woodwork and bounces clear.
83' - BRILLIANT SAVE FROM KEPA! Oh my, Vidi almost nick a late goal! The Chelsea defence are caught napping as Kovacs runs onto a through-ball. He fires a powerful shot and Kepa gets down to make a really clever save to his right.
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Vidi's Loic Nego in action with Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga and Andreas Christensen
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
- Chelsea are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions this season (W8 D2), since losing their opening fixture against Manchester City in the Community Shield.
- MOL Vidi haven’t won any of their last seven away UEFA Cup/Europa League matches, drawing one and losing six since winning 1-0 against Real Madrid in the second leg of the 1984-85 UEFA Cup final.
- Chelsea mustered 27 shots in the game, last attempting more in a game in all competitions in May 2017 against Sunderland in the Premier League (28).
- Chelsea have never lost a single home European match (excluding qualifiers) in a competition other than the Champions League (P36 W29 D7 L0).
- Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata finally scored his first Europa League goal of the season with his 14th attempt and only his second on target.
- Willian has been directly involved in five goals in his last six games for Chelsea in European competitions, scoring four and assisting one.
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