toptop
Eden
Hazard's injury-time strike cancelled out Raul Jimenez's surprise opener as
Chelsea drew 1-1 with Wolves at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday.
Wolves frustrated Maurizio Sarri's men on a windy afternoon in south west London
and Jimenez broke the deadlock, with the visitors' only shot on target, in the
56th minute with a heavily-deflected strike that crept over the line.
Chelsea tried to find a way through Wolves' resilient defence, and eventually
they found an answer through Hazard's driven shot in injury time (90+2) to steal
the hosts a point.
The result means Wolves create a one-point lead over Watford in seventh place.
Chelsea stay in sixth after seeing their three-game winning streak come to an
end and hit a setback in the top-four race.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga (6), Azpilicueta (6), Rudiger (5), Luiz
(5), Emerson (6), Jorginho (6), Kante (6), Kovacic (5), Pedro (6), Higuain (5),
Hazard (7)
Subs: Loftus-Cheek (5), Hudson-Odoi (5), Willian (6)
Wolves Patricio (7), Coady (6), Boly (6), Jonny (6), Doherty
(5), Neves (6), Dendoncker (6), Saiss (6), Moutinho (6), Jota (7), Jimenez (7)
Subs: Gibbs-White (N/A), Traore (N/A)
Man of the match: Raul Jimenez
Wolves failed to get a shot on goal away, or even a touch in Chelsea's box, in
the first half but they did very well to limit the hosts to very few goalscoring
opportunities on a blustery afternoon.
Gonzalo Higuain struck from a narrow angle in the 18th minute, but Rui Patricio
was able to get his body behind it.
There were half-hearted appeals for a Chelsea penalty five minutes later when
the ball appeared to strike Jimenez's arm in the box as he made a clearance, but
referee Michael Oliver waved away the protests.
Team news
David Luiz, Mateo Kovacic and Pedro came in for Andreas Christensen, Ross
Barkley and Willian.
For Wolves, John Ruddy, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ruben Vinagre and Adama Traore
dropped out for Rui Patricio, Matt Doherty, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.
And against the run of play in the second half, the Mexico international scored
a surprise opening goal in the 56th minute. Diogo Jota slipped the 27-year-old
clean through before his finish deflected off Azpilicueta, looping over Kepa
Arrizabalaga, into the net.
Chelsea knocked on the door for an equaliser and substitute Willian came close
with a driven strike which Patricio acrobatically parried over bar.
In injury-time, Chelsea got the leveller they were long searching for through
their talisman Hazard, whose powerful effort crashed into the bottom corner.
Opta stats
After a five-game winning run against promoted sides at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea
have now failed to win two of their last four such home matches in the Premier
League (P4 W2 D2 L0).
Wolves are now unbeaten in six league games in London this season (W3 D3), their
longest such run in the capital in the top-flight since November 1974 (11
games).
Of non-big six sides, Wolves have picked up at least two more points against
big-six opposition than any other Premier League team this season (P9 W2 D4 L3 -
10 points).
Eden Hazard's equaliser was his 50th Premier League goal at Stamford Bridge for
Chelsea, becoming the third player to do so for the club in the competition
after Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.
Only Cesc Fabregas (6) has assisted more Premier League goals for Chelsea's Eden
Hazard than Willian (5).
No player has scored more Premier League goals within a single season for Wolves
than current striker Raul Jiménez (12 - also Steven Fletcher in 2011-12).
Wolves duo Diogo Jota (one goal, two assists) and Raul Jiménez (two goals, one
assist) have direclty combined for each of their sides last three Premier League
goals.
Man of the Match - Raul Jimenez
Jimenez was starved of service for the majority of the match yet he was clinical
to turn his goal into the net when given the chance.
His defensive work was also admirable as he made numerous headed clearances from
set-pieces
What's next?
Chelsea travel to Dynamo Kiev for their Europa League last-16 second leg on
Thursday night. Wolves, meanwhile, host Manchester United in the FA Cup on
Saturday.
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Kepa, Azpilicueta (c), Rudiger, Luiz, Emerson, Kante,
Kovacic (Loftus-Cheek 56), Jorginho (Willian 72), Pedro (Hudson-Odoi 61),
Hazard, Higuain
Subs Not Used Caballero, Christensen, Barkley, Giroud
Booked Rudiger
Goals Hazard 90+2
Wolverhampton Wanderers Patricio, Coady (c), Boly, Saiss,
Jonny, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neves, Doherty, Jota (Gibbs-White 82), Jimenez
(Traore 89)
Subs Not Used Ruddy, Vinagre, Cavaleiro, Kilman, Costa
Booked Doherty, Saiss, Boly, Jota
Goals Jimenez 56
Attendance 40,692
Referee Michael Oliver