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Version 6 Version 7
Chelsea v Stoke City: Premier League –as it happened Chelsea v Stoke City: Premier League –as it happened
(10 days later)
7.27pm BST7.27pm BST
19:2719:27
Full time: Chelsea 2-1 Stoke CityFull time: Chelsea 2-1 Stoke City
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeep! It’s all over. They made heavy enough weather of it, but Chelsea have held on to win and secure three points that take them seven points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand. Eden Hazard opened the scoring, only for Charlie Adam to equalise with a super piece of improvisation from inside his own half. Loic Remy restored Chelsea’s lead after Hazard had capitalised on a mix-up between Asmir Begovic and Steven N’Zonzi. It wasn’t all good news for Chelsea, however: Diego Costa limped off with a serious looking hamstring problem and may well be out for the rest of the season.Peep! Peep! Peeeeeep! It’s all over. They made heavy enough weather of it, but Chelsea have held on to win and secure three points that take them seven points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand. Eden Hazard opened the scoring, only for Charlie Adam to equalise with a super piece of improvisation from inside his own half. Loic Remy restored Chelsea’s lead after Hazard had capitalised on a mix-up between Asmir Begovic and Steven N’Zonzi. It wasn’t all good news for Chelsea, however: Diego Costa limped off with a serious looking hamstring problem and may well be out for the rest of the season.
7.23pm BST7.23pm BST
19:2319:23
90+3 min: Stoke chalk up their sixth booking of the match. Petyer Crouch has his name taken for a foul on Fabregas. Moments later, Didier Drogba gets booked for a crime I must confess I didn’t see him commit.90+3 min: Stoke chalk up their sixth booking of the match. Petyer Crouch has his name taken for a foul on Fabregas. Moments later, Didier Drogba gets booked for a crime I must confess I didn’t see him commit.
7.22pm BST7.22pm BST
19:2219:22
90+2 min: Stoke win a throw-in deep in Chelsea territory after Crouch wins another header. The ball’s delivered to the near post, where it’s flicked on. Arnautovic has a swipe but fails to keep his shot down and sends the ball screaming high over the bar. He should have hit the target.90+2 min: Stoke win a throw-in deep in Chelsea territory after Crouch wins another header. The ball’s delivered to the near post, where it’s flicked on. Arnautovic has a swipe but fails to keep his shot down and sends the ball screaming high over the bar. He should have hit the target.
7.20pm BST7.20pm BST
19:2019:20
90 min: The ball is pumped long into the Chelsea penalty area in another effort to find Crouch. Again, it’s out of his reach. At the third time of asking, he is finally picked out and wins the header, only to be penalised for offside ... or possibly backing into his defender. There’ll be four minutes of added time.90 min: The ball is pumped long into the Chelsea penalty area in another effort to find Crouch. Again, it’s out of his reach. At the third time of asking, he is finally picked out and wins the header, only to be penalised for offside ... or possibly backing into his defender. There’ll be four minutes of added time.
7.18pm BST7.18pm BST
19:1819:18
89 min: Arnautovic whips a cross into the Chelsea penalty area in a bid to find Peter Crouch. |It’s not a bad effort, but the ball is out of the striker’s reach.89 min: Arnautovic whips a cross into the Chelsea penalty area in a bid to find Peter Crouch. |It’s not a bad effort, but the ball is out of the striker’s reach.
7.17pm BST7.17pm BST
19:1719:17
87 min: Azpilicueta plays the ball down the inside left to Didier Drogba, who is challenged by Geoff Cameron and wins a throw-in for Chelsea deep in Stoke territory.87 min: Azpilicueta plays the ball down the inside left to Didier Drogba, who is challenged by Geoff Cameron and wins a throw-in for Chelsea deep in Stoke territory.
7.16pm BST7.16pm BST
19:1619:16
86 min: Didier Drogba goes down holding his ankle after a tussle with Shawcross. He looks OK to continue.86 min: Didier Drogba goes down holding his ankle after a tussle with Shawcross. He looks OK to continue.
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7.15pm BST7.15pm BST
19:1519:15
84 min: Jose-watch: such was the Chelsea manager’s frustration at seeing Willian miss that recent double-chance, he appears to have head-butted the ground in frustration. More news on that one as I get it.84 min: Jose-watch: such was the Chelsea manager’s frustration at seeing Willian miss that recent double-chance, he appears to have head-butted the ground in frustration. More news on that one as I get it.
7.13pm BST7.13pm BST
19:1319:13
83 min: Stoke win a throw-inon the halfway line and chuck the ball back towards Asmir Begovic. He plays it out to Ryan Shawcross, who launches it in the general direction of Peter Crouch.83 min: Stoke win a throw-inon the halfway line and chuck the ball back towards Asmir Begovic. He plays it out to Ryan Shawcross, who launches it in the general direction of Peter Crouch.
7.11pm BST7.11pm BST
19:1119:11
79 min: Chelsea squander an excellent opportiunity to end this match as a contest when Hazard picks out Cuadrado with a low pull-back, only for the midfielder to shoot straight at Begovic from about five yards. With the goalkeeper sprawling on the ground, the substitute also fails to convert the follow-up shot as he’s foiled by Begovic again. That’s quite the double-save and the excellent build-up play from Hazard, Cuadrado and Willian that led to the scoring opportunity wasn’t too shabby either.79 min: Chelsea squander an excellent opportiunity to end this match as a contest when Hazard picks out Cuadrado with a low pull-back, only for the midfielder to shoot straight at Begovic from about five yards. With the goalkeeper sprawling on the ground, the substitute also fails to convert the follow-up shot as he’s foiled by Begovic again. That’s quite the double-save and the excellent build-up play from Hazard, Cuadrado and Willian that led to the scoring opportunity wasn’t too shabby either.
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at 7.34pm BSTat 7.34pm BST
7.08pm BST7.08pm BST
19:0819:08
78 min: Stoke clear Hazard’s corner, but Chelsea retain possession. The excellent Willian is penalised for offside.78 min: Stoke clear Hazard’s corner, but Chelsea retain possession. The excellent Willian is penalised for offside.
7.07pm BST7.07pm BST
19:0719:07
78 min: Sloppy play from Marc Wilson sees the ball wend its way to Eden Hazard on the left touchline. He wins a corner. Stoke substitutions: Peter Crouch on for Stephen Ireland, Erik Peters on for Charlie Adam.78 min: Sloppy play from Marc Wilson sees the ball wend its way to Eden Hazard on the left touchline. He wins a corner. Stoke substitutions: Peter Crouch on for Stephen Ireland, Erik Peters on for Charlie Adam.
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at 7.28pm BSTat 7.28pm BST
7.05pm BST7.05pm BST
19:0519:05
74 min: For all their dominance, Chelsea look anything but home and hosed here and should they fail to score again, it’s not difficult to imagine Stoke catching them with another sucker punch in the final 15 minutes. It’s also not difficult to imagine Stoke finishing the game with 10 or fewer men - five of them are on bookings and at least one - hello Charlie! - might have had two, if not three yellow cards on any other day.74 min: For all their dominance, Chelsea look anything but home and hosed here and should they fail to score again, it’s not difficult to imagine Stoke catching them with another sucker punch in the final 15 minutes. It’s also not difficult to imagine Stoke finishing the game with 10 or fewer men - five of them are on bookings and at least one - hello Charlie! - might have had two, if not three yellow cards on any other day.
7.03pm BST7.03pm BST
19:0319:03
73 min: Willian advances through the centre and plays the ball wide to Hazard on the left. He floats a cross-field pass towards Cuadrado, who promptly loses the ball.73 min: Willian advances through the centre and plays the ball wide to Hazard on the left. He floats a cross-field pass towards Cuadrado, who promptly loses the ball.
7.02pm BST7.02pm BST
19:0219:02
72 min: Stoke substitution I forget to mention a couple of minutes ago: Mame Biram Diouf off, Marko Arnautovic on.72 min: Stoke substitution I forget to mention a couple of minutes ago: Mame Biram Diouf off, Marko Arnautovic on.
7.01pm BST7.01pm BST
19:0119:01
71 min: Willian attempts to pick out Didier Drogba with a low cross towards the near post, but the ball evades the substitute, who’d run into space.71 min: Willian attempts to pick out Didier Drogba with a low cross towards the near post, but the ball evades the substitute, who’d run into space.
7.00pm BST7.00pm BST
19:0019:00
69 min: Playing in a more central role than earlier, Willian attempts to combine with Drogba through the centre while Cuadrado offers support on the right. Stoke stand firm.69 min: Playing in a more central role than earlier, Willian attempts to combine with Drogba through the centre while Cuadrado offers support on the right. Stoke stand firm.
6.58pm BST6.58pm BST
18:5818:58
67 min: Chelsea have restored their lead, but certainly aren’t having it all their own way. Stoke are playing well here and having a proper go at the league leaders. Philipp Wollscheid becomes the fifth Stoke player to have his name taken by the referee, on this occasion for a foul on Didier Drogba.67 min: Chelsea have restored their lead, but certainly aren’t having it all their own way. Stoke are playing well here and having a proper go at the league leaders. Philipp Wollscheid becomes the fifth Stoke player to have his name taken by the referee, on this occasion for a foul on Didier Drogba.
6.56pm BST6.56pm BST
18:5618:56
66 min: Hazard scampers through the Chelsea penalty area from right to left, then attempts to lay the ball off for Didier Drogba. The Ivorian fails to get off a clean shot on goal.66 min: Hazard scampers through the Chelsea penalty area from right to left, then attempts to lay the ball off for Didier Drogba. The Ivorian fails to get off a clean shot on goal.
6.55pm BST6.55pm BST
18:5518:55
65 min: Charlie Adam gets booked for screaming in the referee’s face after a decision for a throw-in didn’t go his way.65 min: Charlie Adam gets booked for screaming in the referee’s face after a decision for a throw-in didn’t go his way.
6.53pm BST6.53pm BST
18:5318:53
63 min: Steve N’Zonzi goes close with a decent speculative long range effort which he attempts to place into the bottom left-hand corner from outside the area. Courtois was beaten, but the ball bounced agonisingly wide. Chelsea substitution: Loic Remy has made way after restoring his side’s lead. Juan Cuadrado is on for him.63 min: Steve N’Zonzi goes close with a decent speculative long range effort which he attempts to place into the bottom left-hand corner from outside the area. Courtois was beaten, but the ball bounced agonisingly wide. Chelsea substitution: Loic Remy has made way after restoring his side’s lead. Juan Cuadrado is on for him.
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6.51pm BST6.51pm BST
18:5118:51
GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Stoke (Remy 61)GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Stoke (Remy 61)
They’re in a better mood now. Asmir Begovic attempts to roll the ball out to Steven N’Zonzi, but Eden Hazard nips in to intercept his pass and bear down on goal. As Begovic advances, Hazard rolls the ball a couple of yards to his left, where Loic Remy is on hand to roll it into the gaping goal. Oh Asmir.They’re in a better mood now. Asmir Begovic attempts to roll the ball out to Steven N’Zonzi, but Eden Hazard nips in to intercept his pass and bear down on goal. As Begovic advances, Hazard rolls the ball a couple of yards to his left, where Loic Remy is on hand to roll it into the gaping goal. Oh Asmir.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.19pm BSTat 7.19pm BST
6.49pm BST6.49pm BST
18:4918:49
59 min: Chelsea’s supporters are getting audibly frustrated, with Stoke’s stubborness, the referee, Diego Costa’s hamstrings and life in general.59 min: Chelsea’s supporters are getting audibly frustrated, with Stoke’s stubborness, the referee, Diego Costa’s hamstrings and life in general.
6.48pm BST6.48pm BST
18:4818:48
Diego Costa twangs his hamstring ...Diego Costa twangs his hamstring ...
Oh dear! Just 12 minutes after coming on, the Chelsea substitute pulls up in the Stoke penalty area and immediately signals to the bench that he’ll need to be substituted. His hamstring has gone and he knows it - he lies on his back in the six-yard box, before limping off the field and being escorted to the dressing room by Chelsea’s medical team. I’m no doctor, but I suspect we may not be seeing Mr Costa in a Chelsea shirt again this season. Didier Drogba comes on instead of him.Oh dear! Just 12 minutes after coming on, the Chelsea substitute pulls up in the Stoke penalty area and immediately signals to the bench that he’ll need to be substituted. His hamstring has gone and he knows it - he lies on his back in the six-yard box, before limping off the field and being escorted to the dressing room by Chelsea’s medical team. I’m no doctor, but I suspect we may not be seeing Mr Costa in a Chelsea shirt again this season. Didier Drogba comes on instead of him.
UpdatedUpdated
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6.45pm BST6.45pm BST
18:4518:45
55 min: A foul by Stephen Ireland results in a free-kick for Chelsea wide on the left, in line with the side of the penalty area. Willian whips the ball through the corridor of uncertainty between goalkeeper and outfield players and Begovic is forced to make another fine save as the ball threatens to creep past him at the far post. I think it might have come off the head of Glenn Whelan.55 min: A foul by Stephen Ireland results in a free-kick for Chelsea wide on the left, in line with the side of the penalty area. Willian whips the ball through the corridor of uncertainty between goalkeeper and outfield players and Begovic is forced to make another fine save as the ball threatens to creep past him at the far post. I think it might have come off the head of Glenn Whelan.
6.43pm BST6.43pm BST
18:4318:43
52 min: Stoke enjoy a spell of about 45 seconds of uninterrupted possession, which ends when Charlie Adam picks up the ball in midfield and plays it back towards his own goalkeeper this time. Begovic launches it forward and Chelsea win possession.52 min: Stoke enjoy a spell of about 45 seconds of uninterrupted possession, which ends when Charlie Adam picks up the ball in midfield and plays it back towards his own goalkeeper this time. Begovic launches it forward and Chelsea win possession.
6.40pm BST6.40pm BST
18:4018:40
50 min: Willian drills the ball towards Fabregas on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area, but his attempted lay-off to Remy goes awry, prompting audible groans of frustration in the stands.50 min: Willian drills the ball towards Fabregas on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area, but his attempted lay-off to Remy goes awry, prompting audible groans of frustration in the stands.
6.39pm BST6.39pm BST
18:3918:39
49 min: It’s all Chelsea in the early stages of the second half, as they pass and probe, trying to find an opening in a fairly obdurate Stoke defence.49 min: It’s all Chelsea in the early stages of the second half, as they pass and probe, trying to find an opening in a fairly obdurate Stoke defence.
6.37pm BST6.37pm BST
18:3718:37
47 min: Chelsea dominate from kick-off and don’t take long to fashion a chance. Eden Hazard brings a smart save out of Asmir Begovic, with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that the goalkeeper is forced to palm over the bar for a corner.47 min: Chelsea dominate from kick-off and don’t take long to fashion a chance. Eden Hazard brings a smart save out of Asmir Begovic, with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that the goalkeeper is forced to palm over the bar for a corner.
6.34pm BST6.34pm BST
18:3418:34
The second half is under way at Stamford BridgeThe second half is under way at Stamford Bridge
Stoke City get the ball rolling, with Diego Costa on for Chelsea in place of Oscar.Stoke City get the ball rolling, with Diego Costa on for Chelsea in place of Oscar.
6.31pm BST
18:31
It’s out to 65 yards now ... It’ll probably be up to 100 by Match of the Day.
Adam's goal was the talk of the press room at half-time. Officially, he was 65 yards from goal when he tried his luck.
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at 6.32pm BST
6.30pm BST
18:30
More on that Charlie Adam wonder-goal: He picks up the ball in his own half, just outside the centre circle. Glancing up, he sees Thibaut Courtois standing three or four yards outside his penalty area. Adam proceeds to put his left foot through the ball, to send a swerving 59-yard (59 yards) effort sailing over the back-pedalling goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net. It was an extraordinary, inch-perfect strike by a player who knew exactly what he was doing and the look of total disbelief on Courtois’s face after picking the ball out of the net was comical. If nothing else, it ought to get him on the opening credits of Match of the Day next season.
Updated
at 6.45pm BST
6.24pm BST
18:24
What a strike @Charlie26Adam Id need a Driver and 8 iron to hit a ball that far! 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈 Hell of a strike!
6.23pm BST
18:23
Absolute Exocet from Charlie Adams. As good as Beckham's but will never get the same recognition because his brand is not as sexy. #Sexocet
6.22pm BST
18:22
Half-time: Chelsea 1-1 Stoke City
Chelsea’s almost total first half dominance finally paid off in the 38th minute, when Eden Hazard scored a penalty conceded by Philipp Wollscheid for a rash lunge on Cesc Fabregas. The jig looked up for Stoke, but a wonderful equaliser from Charlie Adam, who scored from well inside his own half, has made it all square at the interval.
6.19pm BST
18:19
45+3 min: Chelsea win a corner, which Willian swings into the mixer. Asmir Begovic deals with it comfortably and the referee blows for the interval.
6.18pm BST
18:18
45+1 min: Reports suggest that several contenders for Goal of the Season were scored in the Premier League today. I haven’t seen them yet, but will be astonished if any are as good as that audacious piece of improvisation from Charlie Adam.
Updated
at 6.18pm BST
6.16pm BST
18:16
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Stoke City (Adam 44)
Charlie Adam scores a quite sensational goal from inside his own half, spotting Thibaut Courtois off his line and chipping the back-pedalling Chelsea goalkeeper with an effort from a yard or two outside his own team’s half of the centre-circle. Brilliant stuff!
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6.14pm BST
18:14
41 min: There’s a pause in play as Cesc Fabregas gets treatment for a bloody and possibly broken nose. He’s gushing claret and looking very sorry for himself after sustaining a whack. He retreats to the touchline for some more attention, then quickly returns to action. He did very well to win that penalty, sensing Wollscheid behind him and anticipating the challenge, playing the ball away from himself and drawing the foul.
6.12pm BST
18:12
39 min: Well, you didn’t need to be Mystic Meg to predict that goal was coming, although Hazard may have caused palpitations among some supporters with the apparently cavalier manner he went about his business of scoring from 12 yards. Pausing ever so slightly in his run-up, he waited for Begovic to dive before coolly rolling the ball down the middle and into the back of the net.
6.09pm BST
18:09
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Stoke City (Hazard 38pen)
Eden Hazard converts from the spot to put Chelsea a goal up.
Updated
at 6.25pm BST
6.08pm BST
18:08
Penalty for Chelsea ...
Philipp Wollscheid dives in to trip Cesc Fabregas just outside the six-yard box after the Spaniard had picked up a pass from Willian.
6.07pm BST
18:07
36 min: Chelsea win another corner and once again take it quickly, almost catching Stoke’s defence unawares. They manage to regroup in time to clear their lines.
6.06pm BST
18:06
35 min: Chelsea continue to turn the screw, ratcheting the pressure up on Stoke, whose defence looks likely to buckle sooner rather than later. They’re really under the cosh.
6.05pm BST
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34 min: Nemanja Matic tries to fire a shot goalwards from the left-hand side of the Stoke penalty area, but finds a thicket of defenders blocking the ball’s path to goal.
6.04pm BST
18:04
32 min: Free-kick for Chelsea, which WIllian takes. The ball zooms over the bar.
6.03pm BST
18:03
31 min: Ryan Shawcross gets booked for a body-check on Oscar.
6.03pm BST
18:03
30 min: Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Ping. Chelsea attempt to “Arsenal” their way through the Stoke defensive ranks with a series of sublime one-touch passes, the pick of which is Willian’s to Hazard in the penalty area. He picks out Oscar, only for the wee Brazilian to fire wide of the upright. That would and should have been a sensational goal.
6.00pm BST
18:00
28 min: Chelsea are mullering Stoke here, but looking vulnerable on the counter-attack and lacking in end product thus far. A constant menace on the fringes of the Stoke penalty area, Eden Hazard tries his luck with a low daisy-cutter which takes a slight deflection. Asmir Begovic dives to make the save.
5.58pm BST
17:58
27 min: With Stoke on the counter-attack, Charlie Adam swings a decent cross into the penalty area, but Chelsea clear. The ball comes to Steven N’Zonzi, who tries to curl a long=range effort into the top corner. His effort is wide, but not by much.