February 22, (THEWILL) – On Tuesday night, a demonstrably-improved Chelsea side took a commanding first-leg lead over Lille in the UEFA Champions League last 16 fixture at home in Stamford Bridge.
For Thomas Tuchel’s team, it was all about game management as they never looked like surrendering control. If that was the game strategy, the Blues executed it to win the tie 2-0 courtesy of goals from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic.
Havertz, who started in the centre after Romelu Lukaku was dropped, was the star of the first half, although he spurned two good chances before scoring from his third opportunity inside ten minutes.
It all began when teammate Cesar Azpilicueta found him with a low cross only four minutes in, but the German failed to lift a nudged finish beyond the keeper and it ended up over the bar from just four yards away.
The languid striker then created his own chance, collecting a pass on the left flank before cutting inside and curving a shot into the far corner. Lille goalkeeper Leo Jardim made an outstanding stop to palm the ball around the post, but Havertz rose unmarked from the resulting corner to put Chelsea into the lead.
After that, the hosts seemed comfortable with Lille having possession, while picking them off and exploiting the Ligue 1 opponents’ little disorganised press. Havertz had the chance to double his tally shortly before the hour mark when he snatched the ball on the halfway line, but he was forced slightly wide and blazed his effort over from the angle.
Pulisic finished off a stunning counter move that featured N’Golo Kante at the heart of it as the Blues’ domination in the first half finally paid off. The Frenchman carried the ball from his own half to his left, where Pulisic finished the job inside the penalty area.
Lille never really threatened, despite having lots of possession, and Chelsea will go into the second leg in early March with the dominating lead added to the bonus of preventing Lille from registering an away goal at Stamford Bridge.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
