Sloppy Chelsea survive Slavia scare to progress
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ByEurosport
Updated 18/04/2019 at 21:37 GMT
Europa League, Quarter-final Second Leg – Chelsea 4 (Pedro 5’, 27’, Deli OG 9’, Giroud 17’) Slavia Prague 3 (Soucek 26’, Sevcik 51’, 54’)
Pedro of Chelsea celebrate their second goal, an own goal scored by Simon Deli of SK Slavia Praha during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Slavia Praha at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2019 in London, England
Image credit: Getty Images
Chelsea edged into the semi-finals of the Europa League on Wednesday thanks to a nervy 4-3 win over Slavia Prague.
The Blues led 1-0 from the first leg last week and got off to the perfect start when Pedro finished off a glorious team move to open the scoring after just five minutes.
The Spaniard was then involved in doubling the lead when he missed from yards out, only to see his shot come back off the post and hit defender Simon Deli before nestling in the net.
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Jan Boril of SK Slavia Praha scores an own goal, Chelsea's second goal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Slavia Praha at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2019 in London, England
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Olivier Giroud completed a perfect opening period when he tapped in a third and even though Slavia’s returning captain Tomas Soucek headed in for the visitors Pedro made it four just a minute after that.
However after the break Chelsea fell to pieces as Petr Sevcik beat Kepa Arrizabalaga at his near post and then fired an unstoppable effort past the home keeper in a stunning salvo.
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Petr Sevcik of Slavia Praha celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-4 during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Slavia Praha at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2019 in London, England.
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The visitors brought on former Blue Miroslav Stoch but they were unable to find any more goals and Chelsea progress despite conceding three goals at home for the first time in the Europa League.
They will face German side Eintracht Frankfurt, who beat Benfica on away goals, for a place in the final.
TALKING POINT
What happened to Chelsea in the second half? As soon as Slavia Prague woke up and began to press after the restart, Chelsea caved in, conceding two goals. Anxiety grew at Stamford Bridge as the players became increasingly nervous. David Luiz got in the way of Kepa - left embarrassed for the visitors' second goal - in a breakdown of communication, while Jorginho - brought on to provide a cool head in midfield - conceded possession on more than one occasion. Slavia missed a couple of more late chances and in the end, Chelsea got away with it.
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Petr Sevcik of Slavia Praha celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-4 during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Slavia Praha at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2019 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Following Sunday's dismal defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League, the Europa League is now Maurizio Sarri's most likely avenue to the Champions League next season, but they cannot afford to produce a repeat of this second half performance in the semi-final. Sarri must find a way of cutting out such complacency.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Olivier Giroud (Chelsea): The Frenchman bagged his 10th goal of the Europa League campaign and is the tournament's top goalscorer. It was another fine performance from Giroud, who must be baffled that he isn't starting more games. In the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, Chelsea played with a false-nine, with Hazard left isolated and Giroud left benched. Tonight, the 32-year-old once again highlighted the benefits of starting with a proper centre-forward. His strength and hold-up play brought others into play, allowed Chelsea to play with a focal-point and brought the best out of Hazard.
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Oliver Giroud of Chelsea celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 3-0 during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Slavia Praha at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2019 in London, England
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga 5, Azpilicueta 6, Luiz 5, Christensen 6, Emerson 6, Kante 7, Barkley 6, Kovacic 6, Hazard 7, Pedro 8, Giroud 8. Subs: Jorginho 5, Hudson-Odoi N/A, Willian 5.
Slavia Prague: Kolar 5, Ngadeu-Ngadjiu 6, Kudela 5, Boril 6, Deli 6, Zmrhal 6, Soucek 8, Traore 5, Kral 5, Masopust 5. Subs: Stoch 5, Olayinka 5, Skoda N/A.
KEY MOMENTS
5' - GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Slavia Prague: The Blues are ahead on the night after a slick move! Azpilicueta's backheel finds Pedro, he exchanges passes with Giroud to carve open the Prague defence and finishes with a cool dink over the goalkeeper. Mesmerising one-touch football.
9' - GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Slavia Prague: What a freakish own-goal by Deli! This is one of the most comical goals you will EVER see! Giroud holds the ball up and plays it into the feet of Hazard. He drills it across the face of goal, Pedro somehow strikes the post from point-blank range, but it bounces off Deli and into the back of the net.
17' - GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Sparta Prague: Giroud with his 10th goal of the Europa League this season! The Prague goalkeeper's kick out is won by Luiz and picked up by Kante in the centre of midfield. His lovely through-pass to Pedro cuts open the defence and unselfishly the Spaniard squares it to Giroud who is left with a simple tap-in.
26' - GOAL! Chelsea 3-1 Slavia Prague: The visitors have a goal back! It comes from a corner. The captain Soucek wriggles free at the back post and he uses all the muscles in his neck to direct a bullet header into the bottom corner, leaving Kepa with no chance.
27' - GOAL! Chelsea 4-1 Slavia Prague: Sixty-three seconds after conceding, Chelsea score their fourth of the night! Emerson picks out Giroud with a lovely ball in from the left, the Frenchman's shot is saved by Kolar but Pedro is well positioned to slot in from the follow-up.
51' - GOAL! Chelsea 4-2 Slavia Prague: Sevcik scores Prague's second of the night! The midfielder receives the ball on his right and he connects sweetly with a left-footed shot which beats Kepa at his near post. The Chelsea goalkeeper will be disappointed to be caught out there.
54' - GOAL! Chelsea 4-3 Slavia Prague: Oooooh, what a strike! Sevcik lets fly with a cracker from 25 yards, which arrows into the top corner! Nothing Kepa could have done about that! Stamford Bridge is stunned. It's 5-3 on aggregate and Prague need two more!
KEY STATS
- Four English teams will appear in the semi-finals of major European competitions in the same season for the first time since 1983-84.
- Chelsea are the first English side to win 11 major European games in a single season.
- The Blues are the second Premier League side to reach 100 goals in all competitions this season after Manchester City.
- Olivier Giroud is the first Chelsea player to score 10 goals in a single season in European football.
- Giroud has been directly involved in 12 goals in his last nine Europa League appearances, scoring nine and assisting three.
- Slavia Prague are just one of four sides to score 3+ goals against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in European competition and the first to do so in the Europa League.
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