PL: CHELSEA FAIL TO CLOSE GAP
Chelsea failed to close the gap on the top teams on the Premier League table after they were beaten at Southampton on Tuesday night. The immediate past European champions were beaten 2-1 by the Saints despite taking the lead. They scored the first goal before conceding twice before the end of the first half. In the end, hosts Southampton held on to their advantage for the whole of the second half to record their second league win of the season at the expense of Chelsea.
West London giants Chelsea came into the game with hosts Southampton in sixth spot on the League table with seven points from four games after a record of two wins, one draw and one defeat. They had the opportunity to move above Leeds United into fifth spot and level on points with defending champions Manchester City in second spot with an away win over the Saints. The London side failed to take the opportunity at the end of the game.
Chelsea were the better team in the first quarter of their game with Southampton and they were rewarded with the opener from England international Raheem Sterling after good work from compatriot Mason Mount. The goal from Sterling arrived at the midway point of the first half and it was his third goal in two games. The lead lasted for just five minutes after Romeo Lavia cancelled out the opening goal from Chelsea with a stunning strike. Belgian Lavia was signed from Manchester City this summer. Englishman Adam Armstrong then scored in the first minute of first half added time to give Southampton the lead for the first time in the game. They would go on to hold on to the lead for the rest of the game.
After the defeat to Southampton, Chelsea drop down to eighth spot on the league table. On their part, Southampton move six places up the table to seventh spot.