Cucurella's daisy-cutter the decider as Blues hit 4th spot in Premier Lague as Foxes stay in relegation zone
By Paul Lagan at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea 1 v Leicester City 0
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Marc Cucurella scored the only goal in a 1-0 win that gave Chelsea a deserved three points against a Leicester side who know they are going to be relegated, but will try and not get hammered.
The Spain left back's 25 yard daisy-cutter in the second half, was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable encounter at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are now in fourth place in the league, two points clear of fifth placed Manchester City.
Chelsea thought they should have had a penalty in the first minute when Cole Palmer went sprawling to the deck in the Foxes area after a clash with Luke Thomas. Referee Tim Robinson saw nothing wrong, the Chelsea player crowded round him like spoilt children – he was not moved and play continued.
Bilal El Khannouss worked a space for himself on seven minutes and let fly with a smart right-footer, but restored between the sticks Robert Sanchez had no trouble snaffling the shot.
Neto and Wout Faes had a coming together with their heads – on the sideline near the dugouts. Both had to have strapping wound round their heads.
Robinson had a much easier decision to make on 20 minutes when Jaydon Sancho had his right foot trodden on by Victor Kristiansen. The lovely jump in supposed agony helped sway the otherwise correct decision.
Up stepped Palmer to take the kick but it was brilliantly saved by Mads Hermansen, who dived to his left to parry the ball away for a corner.
City should have scored on 25 minutes when a right wing cross from Thomas was missed by Sanchez who dived into fresh air, the ball then bounced off Tosin's head, he had no idea what was going on – and then the ball bounced off the crossbar with Jamie Vardy denied the follow-up by Levi Colwill.
Deep in to added time, Christopher Nkunku had a left-footed first-time curler, tipped over the crossbar by Hermansen.
There were no changes by either side at half-time. The Blues started the second half brightly, pushing the Foxes back.
But it was Vardy who had the first effort on goal, his right footer, from a tight angle was flicked away by Sanchez for a corner on 52 minutes.
On 60 minutes, the Blues attacked with pace and accuracy of passing, eventually giving the ball to Marc Cucurella. The left wing back hit a 25 yard left-footed daisy-cutter which zipped across a distraught Hermansen, and the ball ended up inside the side netting to give the west Londoners the lead.
Chelsea made a double substitution on 72 minutes – off went Wesley Fofana and Palmer, and on came Trevoh Chalobah and Tyrique George.
Defender Josh Acheampong came on for the last two minutes – off went ineffectual Nkunku.
The visitors pushed late on for an equaliser and gave the Chelsea rearguard a bit of a fright, but noting too difficult.
Teams: Chelsea: Sanchez, Cucurella, Tosin, Colwill, Neto, Enzo, Nkunku, Sancho, Palmer, Caicedo, Fofana
Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Dewsbury-Hall, Chalobah, George, Acheampong, Amougou, Lavia, Antwi
Leicester City
Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Coady, Ndidi, Vardy, El Khannouss, Kristiansen, Daka, Soumare, Thomas
Subs: Stalarczyk, Okali, Winks, Mavididi, De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Pereira, Coulibaly, Buonanotte
Referee: Tim Robinson
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