Chelsea bounced back with style as they powered to a 3-1 triumph over Premier League newcomers Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium on a thrilling Tuesday evening.
Under Antonio Conte’s sharp guidance, Chelsea dominated the pitch from the kick-off. The Blues took control early on with Tiemoue Bakayoko and Willian finding the net in the first half to put Chelsea firmly in command before Pedro wrapped up the win with a neat finish shortly after the break.
Huddersfield’s Laurent Depoitre managed to pull back a late goal, denying Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois a clean sheet, but it was no match for the dominant Blues who now stand level with Manchester United on 35 points, sitting proudly in third place.
First Half Action
The hosts set up defensively from the start looking to challenge the Premier League giants, but Chelsea quickly threatened with Eden Hazard nearly capitalising on an early chance. Despite the initial pressure, it was a costly error by Huddersfield’s keeper Jonas Lossl that paved the way for Chelsea’s breakthrough. A poor clearance allowed Victor Moses to head forward and Hazard’s clever flick set Willian up to assist Bakayoko, who smashed home from a tight angle.
Conte’s tactical brilliance was evident as he pushed his team to seal the win before halftime. N’Golo Kante came close with a long-range effort, narrowly skimming over the bar, while Bakayoko nearly added another with a powerful header. The pressure paid off as Willian converted a superb weighted cross from Marcos Alonso just before the break, doubling Chelsea’s advantage. Pedro came close to extending the lead in stoppage time, forcing a sharp reaction from Lossl.
Second Half Highlights
The second half saw Pedro calmly slot in his first goal to put the match beyond doubt within five minutes of the restart, placing the ball in the top-right corner after a precise assist from Willian.
Huddersfield tried to respond; Hazard’s quick movement from a corner almost found the net, and Courtois pulled off a vital save from Tom Ince. The visitors had their moments too, with Mathias Jorgensen firing a powerful shot over the crossbar. Chelsea’s Pedro missed a couple of chances in quick succession but the Blues’ dominance was unshaken.
Huddersfield’s best spell came late as Daniel Williams’ effort was deflected just wide, and Depoitre bundled in a consolation header in stoppage time after an excellent cross from Florent Hadergjonaj, signaling the end of an exciting contest.
Final Score: Huddersfield 1 – 3 Chelsea
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