Established 1961 15 Sports Sunday, November 19, 2017 Hazard scores twice as Chelsea hammer West Bromwich Albion Fourth straight league defeat for West Brom WEST BROMWICH: Chelsea cruised to a 4-0 victo- Brom, but after he angled a pass towards Rondon, ry at West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League Cesar Azpilicueta read the danger well and snuffed it yesterday with two-goal Eden Hazard leading the out. Chelsea first showed in the 14th minute when way. The Belgian played a key role in Alvaro Morata’s Tiemoue Bakayoko collected the ball on the edge of 17th-minute opener before scoring the champions’ the area, turned away from Gareth McAuley and dis- second and fourth goals as they won without needing patched a shot that was deflected behind. to reach top gear at The Hawthorns. Just three minutes later the Blues were ahead, Marcos Alonso also found the net for Antonio although the home fans were unhappy with the nature Conte’s side, who left West Brom head coach Tony of the goal. With the hosts considering putting the Pulis fighting to save his job after a display of lethar- ball out of play after Hazard went down nursing an gic defending. Chelsea’s injury, the Belgium fourth successive winger rejoined the play league win arrived and fashioned a shoot- despite reported unrest ing chance. He drew a involving defender Hegazi crudely save from goalkeeper David Luiz, who was Ben Foster, but Morata back in the squad as an dragged Morata reacted quickest to turn unused substitute after home the rebound. being omitted for the 1- to the ground Alonso then dragged 0 victory over an effort wide of the Manchester United. target as Chelsea The visitors provision- sniffed blood. The sec- ally moved into second ond goal arrived on 23 place above United, and minutes thanks to a remained nine points adrift of leaders Manchester sublime touch by Morata and some awful Albion City. For Pulis, a run of just two wins in 21 league defending. games leaves him fighting to save his job, with fans They were caught square as the striker flicked a calling for his head. Cesc Fabregas pass into the path of Hazard, who West Brom started brightly and troubled Chelsea rounded Foster to score. After appearing shell- WEST BROMWICH: West Bromwich Albion’s Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazy (R) vies with Chelsea’s with three early crosses from right wing-back Matt shocked in the immediate aftermath of the goals, West Spanish striker Alvaro Morata (C) during the English Premier League football match between West Phillips. The first two were scrambled away by the Brom applied a little pressure, with Jake Livermore Bromwich Albion and Chelsea at The Hawthorns stadium. — AFP visitors, but the third found the head of striker firing over the crossbar and Ahmed Hegazi heading Salomon Rondon. He headed home with the aid of a just wide from a Gareth Barry corner. But it was 3-0 fumble from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, whose seven minutes before the interval, with West Brom kick. Chelsea were soon back on the attack, with Brom switched off again at the back. The Chelsea blushes were spared by an offside flag. showing signs of capitulation. Hegazi crudely dragged Fabregas harshly booked for diving after colliding number 10 controlled a difficult high ball before step- A weaving, counter-attacking run from Jay Morata to the ground and the hosts then left Alonso with McAuley in the West Brom penalty area. Hazard ping away from Hegazi and McAuley and curling a Rodriguez offered further encouragement for West unmarked at the far post to turn in Fabregas’s free- added their fourth goal on 62 minutes when West shot past Foster.—AFP on their visit to Butarque last season was never likely as the hosts went onto enjoy the better of Suarez doubles the opening half. Arsenal remained the more potent The busy Nordin Ambrabat fired a shot over attacking force and almost took the lead a positive run at the Barca defence before Arsenal when Hector Bellerin’s 10th-minute cross stretches Barca’s Gabriel Pires also dragged an effort wide when only just missed Lacazette’s toe. well-placed at the edge of the box. However, Tottenham were operating solely on Leganes’ good work in the opening half hour overpower the counter and went close twice in La Liga lead was undone by a goalkeeping error when Ivan quick succession, Christian Eriksen Cuellar limply palmed Paco Alcacer’s driven Spurs in north scraping the outside of the post in the MADRID: Luis Suarez ended a five-game goal cross into the path of the grateful Suarez to 33rd minute before Kane’s deflected drought with a double as Barcelona extend their smash home his first goal for a month. Barca’s header was saved by Cech. They were lead at the top of La Liga with a flattering 3-0 joy was tempered moments later when Gerard London derby made to pay in the 36th minute, following win at Leganes yesterday. Barca now lead sec- Pique was booked for bringing down Amrabat a disputed foul from Davinson Sanchez ond-placed Valencia by seven points ahead of meaning he will be suspended for next week- LONDON: Shkodran Mustafi and Alexis on Alexis Sanchez. Ozil floated the their trip to Mestalla next weekend, with both end’s clash at Valencia. Sanchez earned Arsenal a convincing 2-0 resulting free kick into the box and Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid 11 points adrift Amrabat was the creator once more for Premier League win over Tottenham Mustafi found the top corner with a bril- before they face off in the Madrid derby later. Leganes’ best chance before the break when he Hotspur in the north London derby at the liant guided header. However, two simple Suarez finishes from close released Alexander Szymanowski inside the Emirates Stadium yesterday. Mustafi The hosts were now buoyant and range either side of half-time and Paulinho’s late area, but the Argentine’s curling effort was opened the scoring with a superb 36th- doubled the lead five minutes later with tap-in glossed over another under-par perform- turned to safety by the in-form Ter Stegen. The minute header and Sanchez doubled the another raid down the right flank. ance from Ernesto Valverde’s men, who were German goalkeeper was called into action again advantage five minutes later with a Lacazette was fed by Bellerin and cut again thankful to a fine display from goalkeeper early in the second period when Leganes sub- close-range strike. back for Sanchez, who made a mess of Marc-Andre ter Stegen. stitute Claudio Beauvue was too quick for the The result lifted Arsenal to fifth place his first touch but lofted his second high Despite tougher tests to come this week with Barca defence only to fire straight at Ter Stegen. in the table on 22 points, one behind into the net from a tight angle. a trip to Juventus in the Champions League on In contrast, just as in the first-half, Barca LEGANES: Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Spurs. Arsenal have now won 11 Premier Tottenham were more urgent after the Wednesday before Valencia, Valverde named his were ruthlessly efficient in front of goal to dou- Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring a goal League matches in succession at their break but were unable to fashion clear- strongest available side. Suarez was refreshed ble their lead on the hour mark. Lionel Messi’s during the Spanish league football match home ground after their first league vic- cut opportunities and increasingly after sitting out international duty with Uruguay dinked pass released Alcacer and after Cuellar Leganes vs Barcelona at the Butarque stadi- tory over arch-rivals Spurs in seven became vulnerable to Arsenal counter- over the past fortnight and had the ball in the parried his first effort, Suarez drilled home the um in Leganes. — AFP games. The hosts started the better and attacks as they pushed forward in search net after just four minutes, but Jordi Alba had rebound for his second of the afternoon. Barca Alexandre Lacazette should have done of an equaliser. Sanchez had three already been flagged for offside as he supplied rode their luck to hold out for a 12th clean sheet better than scoop a right-footed shot chances to put the match beyond Spurs the cross for the former Liverpool striker. in their last 17 games as Ter Stegen saved one- Atletico and Real ahead of the Madrid derby from the edge of the box high and wide but lashed one of the efforts high and Leganes have enjoyed a fine start to just their on-one from Amrabat and Beauvue blasted well and rubbed salt into Leganes’ wounds when in the fifth minute. Harry Kane fired had the other two saved by Tottenham second ever season in the Spanish top flight and over when unmarked 10 yards out. However, Paulinho rolled into an empty net when a loose straight at Petr Cech a minute later but goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.—Reuters a repeat of the 5-0 thrashing Barca dished out Barca piled more pressure on the chasing ball broke off Messi in stoppage time. —AFP Salah destroys Matches on TV (Local Timings) Southampton ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Watford v West Ham United 19:00 LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool beIN SPORTS HD 2 clinched a comfortable 3-0 victory over Southampton to remain in the pack chasing Premier League leaders SPANISH LEAGUE Manchester City yesterday. The Egyptian international Malaga v Deportivo La Coruna 14:00 moved to the top of the league’s scoring charts on nine beIN SPORTS HD 3 goals with a brace before half-time and Philippe Coutinho Espanyol v Valencia 18:15 added a third for Jurgen Klopp’s side after the interval.