MX23RW : Wednesday, July 3 15:07:21| >> :60:22:22:
[monks data]
Chelsea logo
Premier League
Apr 18, 2015 at 5.30pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

1-0

Hazard (38')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Eden Hazard edges Chelsea closer to title with victory over Manchester United

Eden Hazard sends Chelsea to within two wins of the Premier League title by scoring the only goal in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard sent Chelsea to within two wins of the Premier League title by scoring the only goal in their 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The PFA Player of the Year favourite applied the finishing touches to a wonderfully-worked team move to put the Blues 10 points clear at the top of the table.

Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard celebrates scoring the opening goal with Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on April 18, 2015© Getty Images

United are now 11 points back and victory over second-placed Arsenal next weekend and another win after that would seal the championship for Jose Mourinho's side.

The Red Devils had won their last six top-flight games to move to within eight points of the leaders and started brightly as Luke Shaw's perfect cutback set up Wayne Rooney for a left-footed shot which curled just wide.

Ander Herrera and Paddy McNair, recalled in defence in one of several changes enforced on Louis van Gaal by injury, shot wide from distance as United's bright start continued while Chelsea struggled to offer a threat.

Manchester United's Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera slides to try to block a shot from Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas as Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea (R) keeps goal during the English Premier League football match betwe© Getty Images

Cesc Fabregas got into a couple of promising positions for the Blues only to be snuffed out by Herrera and Marouane Fellaini, and the Spaniard played a role in the move which cut the visitors open for the 38th-minute goal.

After John Terry had forcefully dispossessed Radamel Falcao on the halfway line, Fabregas passed into Oscar's feet and, with his back to goal, the Brazilian back-heeled into the path of Hazard, who ran clear of the defence and tucked through David de Gea's legs for his 18th of the season.

The Belgian remained the outstanding player after the break, although he missed a glorious chance to increase Chelsea's cushion when awkwardly poking the ball against the crossbar from inside the six-yard box after Didier Drogba's deflected strike nearly punished a stray Herrera pass.

Didier Drogba of Chelsea tackles Ander Herrera of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on April 18, 2015© Getty Images

On the opposite flank, Shaw was United's biggest attacking threat and he used his pace to get round Drogba and pull a cross back for former Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata, who could only divert his effort over the bar.

Rooney, returned to a deeper midfield role to accommodate Falcao's recall, headed wide from Angel Di Maria's corner after the Colombian had twice shot wide, but United created little more than half-chances in their search for an equaliser.

Referee Mike Dean correctly spotted Herrera's dive deep into stoppage time when he tried to con a penalty under the challenge of Gary Cahill as Mourinho's men safely closed out three huge points in their title quest.

ID:217920: cacheID:217920:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7457:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera slides to try to block a shot from Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas as Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea (R) keeps goal during the English Premier League football match betwe
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: United hit by Hazard sucker punch
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!