BAKU (REUTERS) - Eden Hazard scored twice and created a third to steer Chelsea to a 4-1 victory over London rivals Arsenal in the Europa League final in what looks likely to be the Belgium winger's final game for the Blues.
Chelsea destroyed Arsenal with four second-half goals that handed coach Maurizio Sarri his first major trophy at the age of 60, although that might not be enough to silence the speculation that he could also be leaving Stamford Bridge imminently.
Former Arsenal hero Olivier Giroud and Spain attacker Pedro each got a goal to give Chelsea their third European title in seven years, with the Champions League triumph in 2012 followed by their first Europa League victory in 2013.
Hazard, who joined Chelsea in 2012, looked emotional when he was substituted in the final minutes and held his hands over his eyes to an ovation in Baku's cavernous Olympic Stadium.
The Belgium winger has signalled he wants to move to Real Madrid in the close season.
"My dream was to play in the Premier League and I did it for seven years," Hazard told a television reporter shortly after the final whistle.
"Maybe I think it is time to say goodbye.
"We will decide in a few days and the only target in my mind was to win this final. I have made my decision already and now I'm waiting on both clubs. I think it is a goodbye, but in football you never know."
Â
After a tepid first half, Giroud put Chelsea ahead in the 49th minute with an angled header.
The Blues doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Pedro diverted a cross from Hazard beyond former Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, who was making his last appearance before retiring as a player.
With Arsenal on the ropes, defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles collided with Giroud to concede a penalty that Hazard stroked home after 65 minutes.
Alex Iwobi clawed a goal back for Arsenal but Chelsea restored their three-goal cushion in the 72nd minute when Hazard swapped passes with Giroud to score his second.
Arsenal have lost five of their six major European finals, with their only victory coming in the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup against Parma.
The defeat in the early hours of Thursday - the final in the Azerbaijan capital kicked off at 11pm local time to coincide with peak viewing time in England - also deprives Arsenal of their last chance to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Chelsea had already made sure of their place in Europe's elite competition by finishing third in the Premier League.
But Arsenal coach Unai Emery is on more solid ground than Chelsea's Sarri who, after one stop-start season at Stamford Bridge, has reportedly been targeted by Juventus back in his native Italy.
"Sarri is a great guy, a great coach and he deserves this," Chelsea defender David Luiz said.
"The manager did amazing for this club. I don't know about speculation, now is the time to talk about the title."
And that has got Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Lim Kia Tong and his council worried. "We need to see if we need to tweak the system or the coaching staff," added Lim, whose
Lim Kia Tong 'willing to change', gets support ahead of FAS
Football: Man City inflict more pain on Man United to go back
The Women's World Cup starts on Friday, but who are the favourites and which teams could spring a surprise? Fara Williams, Rachel Yankey and Kelly Smith discuss.
Holders U.S. shrug off weight of World Cup expectations
Substitute striker Javier Hernandez scored a late brace including a stoppage-time winner to help West Ham United beat Huddersfield Town 4-3. Home football; it late to see off spirited
West Ham leave it late to see off spirited Huddersfield
SINGAPORE - An employee of Singapore Premier League club Hougang United has been charged over the loss of more than $250,000 from their clubhouse operations. While working as an admin assistant, Malaysian Tean Tai Tee allegedly misappropriated $278,200. The 24-year-old woman was arrested and charged in court on Dec 16, 2018 with one count of
S$278,200 missing from Hougang United Football Club; employee
TEHERAN (AFP) - Iran's largest stadium will host the women's national football team for the first time since the Islamic revolution, the semi-official news agency ISNA reported on Sunday (Dec 31)..
Iran women's national football team - Wikipedia
Aaron Ramsey has agreed a five-year deal with Juventus and will leave Arsenal at the end of the season, according to reports in Italy. Ramsey has been in talks with Juventus since last year.
Ramsey agrees to join Juventus on a five-year deal worth €40m
Mariah & Raymond's baby bliss is cut short when Raymond expresses doubts. The triplets' medical issues haunt Julia even after they've been released from the NICU. Autumn's labor brings her and
Step Up or Ship Out | Rattled - tlc.com
The 17th Asian Cup finals will be the biggest in the 62-year history of the tournament but even with 24 teams battling it out
Usual suspects in the frame at expanded Asian Cup - Usual
Get a report of the West Bromwich Albion vs. Aston Villa 2018/19 English League Championship, Semifinals football match. Villa into playoff final after shootout win over West Brom.
Football: Aston Villa into playoff final after shootout win
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp denied on Friday that his Premier League leaders will have the upper hand over Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the title race despite a lighter schedule
Football: Klopp denies Liverpool's lighter schedule is title
sportstons.com/soccer/football-klopp-denies-liverpools-lighter-schedule-is-title-advantage/
Football: Klopp denies Liverpool's lighter schedule is title advantage LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp denied on Friday (Jan 11) that his Premier League leaders will have the upper hand over Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in the title race despite a lighter schedule after crashing out of both domestic cup competitions.
Jurgen Klopp denies Liverpool's lighter schedule is title
Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat Azerbaijan - espn.com
PSG miss chance to wrap up French title after goal-line howler with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's incredible miss from on the goal-line costing his team dear. Troubled PSG throw away lead
Clockwatch + La Liga | The Guardian
0 comments:
Post a Comment