SAN FRANCISCO, December 02, (THEWILL) – For the second time in as many UEFA Champions League matches, Frenchman Olivier Giroud is Chelsea’s match-winner. On Wednesday, he scored all four of their goals in a 4-nil victory over Sevilla that helped clinch first place in Group E for the Blues.
In his 50th start for the club, Giroud was at his clinical best. The four goals took his tally to 10 goals in his last seven away starts in the competition and ensured Chelsea go into the knockout stages as one of eight seeded teams.
It was a masterful display by Giroud, who after scoring with either foot, capped a fine performance with a towering header and then a penalty. At 34 years and 63 days, it makes him the oldest player to score a Champions League hat-trick,
Midfielder Kai Havertz tested Sevilla’s debutant goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor, a late addition in place for the injured Tomas Vaclik, with a swerving cross-cum-shot in the opening minute. The Germany international then assisted in the opener about seven minutes later.
Allowed enough space to glide through the Sevilla defence, Havertz rolled the ball to Giroud, who controlled it with one touch before finding the far corner of the net with his 12-yard shot.
Central midfielder Franco Vazquez was timely when he cleared a powerful Antonio Rudiger header off the line. The visitors soon found themselves pressed back in the latter stages of the first half as Sevilla tried to turn dominating possession into goals.
It was with that intent that the hosts emerged from the interval. Right back, Jesus Navas’ audacious flick with the outside of his boot picked out midfielder Nemanja Gudelj, who half-volleyed narrowly over the crossbar from 20 yards.
In the 54th minute, Giroud struck again. He latched onto central midfielder Mateo Kovacic’s pass, shrugged off defender Sergi Gomez and clipped a neat shot over Pastor and into the net.
Lampard introduced N’Golo Kante in the 67th minute and the Frenchman strode down the Chelsea right with 16 minutes left on the clock. His deft cross from there onto the head of Giroud was gratefully powered high into the net by the latter.
To complete the masterclass, Giroud won a late penalty when he drew a tackle from Gomez that he confidently got up and converted into the corner of the net to complete a historic night.
Giroud rolled back the years with his second Champions League hat-trick, having scored one for Arsenal against Olympiacos in December 2015. He is Chelsea’s top scorer in major European competitions since the start of 2018-19 with 15 goals.
Ahead of this fixture, Sevilla was unbeaten in 14 home matches in all European competitions. A hardworking Frank Lampard’s side, who blocked low for long periods but attacked fluently, tore that record to shreds.
Next for the Blues is a Leeds United visit to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday, while Sevilla entertain Real Madrid in La Liga on that same day.
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.
