toptop
Chelsea
moved back to third in the Premier League after comprehensively outplaying Aston
Villa to win 8-0 on Sunday.
Fernando Torres headed the home side in front in the third minute and goals from
David Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic effectively decided the contest before the
break.
Frank Lampard then marked his 500th Premier League start with a trademark
long-range effort that took him ahead of Bobby Tambling's record of 129
top-flight goals for Chelsea, before Oscar, Eden Hazard and a Ramires double
completed the rout.
Although this was the ninth game of Rafael Benitez's Chelsea reign, these were
the first Premier League goals scored under him at Stamford Bridge and this
performance will surely encourage fans that his teams can entertain.
Benitez certainly seems to bring the best out of Torres. The Spanish forward was
quick off the mark to steal a yard on Ciaran Clark and connected beautifully
with Cesar Azpilicueta's right-wing cross to beat Brad Guzan and score his
seventh goal in six games.
Luiz, playing in midfield, then doubled the lead just before the half-hour mark
with a fizzing free-kick that beat the wall and was far too fast for Guzan.
Villa's young side were struggling to deal with the movement and flair of
Chelsea's forwards and the goalkeeper was left exposed again five minutes later.
Guzan saved well from Gary Cahill initially but Ivanovic was there to head in
the rebound with the visitors' defence flatfooted.
The American goalkeeper had a busy afternoon and made a series of fine saves,
denying Juan Mata and Victor Moses early in the second half.
But there was nothing he could do to stop Lampard's superb strike from distance
that capped a landmark game for the 34-year-old who later departed to a standing
ovation.
The three Chelsea substitutes then took over. Premier League debutant Lucas
Piazon found Ramires to blast in the fifth before Oscar scored from the spot
after being pulled down by Chris Herd.
Hazard then scored a brilliant solo effort cutting in from the left channel and
Chelsea had the chance to make it eight when referee Phil Dowd awarded a second
penalty but Piazon saw his shot saved.
But the Blues were not to be denied and Ramires sidefooted home just before the
end to complete Villa's heaviest ever Premier League defeat and crown a
memorable day for Chelsea, Benitez and their talismanic midfielder Lampard.
Click Here For Official Teamsheet
Teams
Chelsea
Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Lampard
(Ramires 61), Moses, Mata (Piazon 74), Hazard, Torres (Oscar 67)
Subs Not Used
Turnbull, Ferreira, Ake, Marin
Booked
Goals
Torres 3, Luiz 29, Ivanovic 34, Lampard 58, Ramires 75, 90, Oscar 79
(pen), Hazard 83
Aston Villa Guzan, Herd, Clark, Baker, Lowton,
Westwood (Ireland 56), Holman (Bowery 79), Bannan, Lichaj (Bennett 56), Weimann,
Benteke
Subs Not Used
Given, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Delph
Booked
Goals
Attendance 41,363
Referee P. Dowd