Chelsea Goes into Smackdown Mode at Huddersfield

Published on 11-Aug-2018 by srijan213

Soccer    Soccer Daily Update

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Chelsea Goes into Smackdown Mode at Huddersfield

After Antonio Conte spent most of last season proving Stamford Bridge was dead to him and management belatedly obliged, anticipation was the word of the day in West Yorkshire.

The Terriers earned 19 Premiership points at home -- going 6-5-8 -- last season, which helped them avoid relegation. They'll need to do all of that in 2018-2019 ... or look out.

 

Chelsea, of course, has bigger aspirations.

Even resting a key player like Eden Hazard -- grueling season already? -- and having lost Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid, the Blues began their Premiership quest in dominant fashion, smashing hapless Huddersfield, 0-3.

It kinda put a face-plant on the Terriers' home-front ambitions.

 

From the start, both sides were seeking space, leaving the impression that this was gonna be a tactical afternoon. Still, as the game went on, Chelsea predictably took control, and registering their first goal was just a matter of time.

It came in the 34th minute with N'Golo Kanté providing a first-time finish after a good cross from Willian.

 

Huddersfield tried to respond through Steve Mounie, who headed a corner that only found woodwork. That's about as good as it got for the homeboys.

On the verge of intermission, Marcos Alonso won a penalty after a missed tackle from Christopher Schindler. The new signing, Jorginho, essentially put the game away from the spot:

 

After that, Chelsea simply toyed with the Terriers. They added a bitta window dressing with ten minutes to go, as Hazard -- in a sub's appearance -- drove forward, passing through all of Huddersfield, and then assisting a free Pedro, who slotted home:

 

With that, it was all systems normal.

Chelsea pocketed points they were expected to get, and Huddersfield Town seemed destined for another season of scrambling.

Click on a photo to enlarge.