First half goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Jorginho fired Chelsea to a London derby victory over relegation battlers Fulham on Sunday.
Chelsea reduced the gap to the top four in the Premier League to just two points, as they defeated local rivals Fulham 1-2 at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring for the visitors, bundling home a cross from captain Cesar Azpilicueta, but Fulham managed to equalise soon after, with Arsenal loanee Calum Chambers finding the back of the net from close range. The parity did not last for long though, as Jorginho unleashed a sensational strike from outside the box to put the Blues back in the lead.
Post the half-time break, Fulham took the game to Chelsea, but Maurizio Sarri’s men managed to hold on to their lead and take home all three points from the Craven Cottage, courtesy of some exceptional goalkeeping from Kepa Arrizabalaga.
And here’s how the Chelsea supporters reacted to their second derby win in the week, having beaten Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.
To be sincere @ChelseaFC biggest problem is not being clinical in front of goal.
Today Jorginho created a lot of chances for our attacking players but none was converted.
Some CFC fans need to look beyond Sarri and say the truth that we have issues in the team.
— Ola’sCube (@Adefola16) March 3, 2019
Jorginho vs Man City runs 15km and gets Pep praise. Jorginho vs Tottenham runs 12km and defensively solid. Jorginho today, first goal from open play under Maurizio Sarri. Bravo to him from coming back from the boo boys: https://t.co/DnjcmA4iay#CFC#FULCHE
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) March 3, 2019
Kepa clearly stole the show for the Blues, putting behind the controversy he had stirred up in the Carabao Cup final, for which he had been dropped for the Spurs game. The world’s most expensive goalkeeper came up clutch for the Blues, after having almost made a huge blunder in the first period, pulling off several important stops to keep Chelsea’s lead intact.
Chelsea fans chanting for Kepa: "It's Kepa, you know, better than Thibaut."
I think they are over his act of defiance after that save. #CFC #FULCHE
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) March 3, 2019
Jamie Carragher before the game – “Kepa hasn’t pulled up any trees this season”. Okay mate ?#CFC pic.twitter.com/Lm5X8fiONb
— Daniel Childs (@SonOfChelsea) March 3, 2019
Kepa today’s game. pic.twitter.com/6005Y95auz
— ™ز (@LaniazSabran) March 3, 2019
My Man Of The Match!
KEPA. #FULCHE Higuain Eden Hazard Fulham We Won. pic.twitter.com/OO5bCFpJS6— Martin Kettienya (@martinkellmen) March 3, 2019
It's Kepa, you know, better than Thibaut ?
— CarefreeYouth (@CarefreeYouth) March 3, 2019
KEPA!
In the headlines for the RIGHT reasons.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) March 3, 2019
Kepa has been class this game. Numerous amount of unreal saves.
— – (@Arrizabalagaed) March 3, 2019
Kepa Arrizabalaga world class performance,
Didn't let any of the media talk get to him, he's seriously saved us in this game as well as our atrocious defending. He's our defence.
— Mod (@CFCMod_) March 3, 2019
Well well well Kepa, I think we have just seen another side to you once again.
We’ve seen the good, we’ve seen the bad but my word did you save us today. Take a bow mate, you deserve it. pic.twitter.com/8vYJrlGBuF
— Uber Chelsea FC ? (@UberCheIseaFC) March 3, 2019
Kepa has been different level this game, don’t tell me Caballero would have made these saves, no disrespect to him.
— ً (@CFCBrano) March 3, 2019
The match also saw Eden Hazard reach another personal milestone, as he completed 50 Premier League assists for Chelsea, when he set Jorginho up for the second goal.
50 PL assists
85 career league assists@hazardeden10 ?? pic.twitter.com/WMt6kTl3hn— Hazard Stuff (@HazardStuff_) March 3, 2019
Hazard would have double the assists if he’d actually had world class talent around him
— #SarriIN (@CarefreeEdition) March 3, 2019