A great Lukaku leads Chelsea’s comeback against Aston Villa

Chelsea overtook Liverpool in second place in the Premier League, although they remain six points behind leaders Manchester City, after coming back to Aston Villa (1-3) thanks to the appearance of a stellar Romelu Lukaku in the second half. The ‘blues’, who had only achieved one victory in the previous four days, ended their losing streak.

Lukaku scored a goal and forced one of the two penalties that Jorginho converted, while Callum Hudson-Odoi, also outstanding in his return, like the Belgian, after overcoming Covid-19, caused the other and gave an assist.

Aston Villa comes out responsive

In the first half, Aston Villa, with Gary McAllister on the bench instead of Steven Gerrard after testing positive for Covid-19 on Saturday, surprised Chelsea from the opening whistle by going against it again and again each time they recovered the ball. . Danny Ings and, especially, Ollie Watkins stepped on the area and gave a feeling of danger but they found Thiago Silva, spectacular on the cut, and Trevoh Chalobah, who kept the ‘blues’ firm on defense.

Chelsea dominated but without generating chances, but Mason Mount was about to score with a poisoned center-kick from the left that hit the top of the crossbar (25 ‘).

Reece James own goal

The dangerous first approach, however, gave way to 1-0 in an unfortunate action by Reece James, who put his head to deflect a cross from the left by Matt Targett and the ball passed an Edouard Mendy who did not measure well. his attempt at clearance (28 ‘).

The game soon took another unexpected turn when Marcos Alonso put a deep ball to Callum Hudson-Odoi and Matty Cash did not measure his drive well and dropped him from behind. Jorginho converted the penalty that Chelsea found themselves in their worst moment of the game.

Lukaku enters and the game changes

If the first part was one of continuous arrivals in both areas, although with few shots on goal, after the break the game changed completely. Thomas Tuchel brought in Romelu Lukaku, who like Hudson-Odoi reappeared after overcoming Covid-19, and the presence of the Belgian striker instead of central Chalobah led Aston Villa to take a step back. Reece James went on to play the axis of the rear.

Hudson-Odoi, also prominent after Covid, attends

Chelsea seized the ball and, despite the fact that Thiago Silva had to withdraw with discomfort, Lukaku quickly left his mark. Hudson-Odoi, key at 1-1 by causing the penalty, put in a cross from the left and the Belgian gunner, ahead of central Tyrone Mings, finished off the net with a perfect head spin (56 ‘).

Mount had the finishing touch ten minutes later but, after surpassing Emiliano Martínez in his adventurous exit from his area, he kicked badly on an empty goal instead of assisting better-placed teammates.

Chelsea ends up pointing

Chelsea did not finish the game and gave some air to a somewhat tired Aston Villa in his first game since December 14 after the outbreak of Covid-19 in his squad that prevented him from playing last day.

But Chelsea regained their pulse and caressed the 1-3 again in a bad shot by Marcos Alonso and, above all, in a counter wonderfully led by Lukaku that Emi Martínez thwarted with a low save to get Hudson’s solo shot -Odoi.

Already in discount, Lukaku starred in another portentous race against him and Ezri Konsa knocked him down in the area. Jorginho returned to transform the penalty and finished off an Aston Villa that, despite the defeat, remains in ninth place in the Premier.