SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 15 hrs 11 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
CL
Premier League
Dec 26, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
WL

2-2

Costa (32', 65')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Deeney (42' pen.), Cahill (56' og.)

Watford hold Guus Hiddink's Chelsea to draw at Stamford Bridge

:Headline: Result: Watford hold Guus Hiddink's Chelsea to draw at Stamford Bridge: ID:262908: from db_amp
Guus Hiddink's second reign as interim Chelsea manager begins with a 2-2 draw at home to Watford.

Guus Hiddink's first match back in interim charge of Chelsea has ended in a 2-2 draw with Watford at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.

Diego Costa scored twice for the hosts to cancel out goals from in-form duo Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo, although Chelsea also missed a late chance to grab all three points when Oscar blazed a penalty over the crossbar.

It was the home side who made the brighter start to the match, dominating possession in the opening exchanges and fashioning the first chance of the game after just four minutes when Costa nodded over from close range.

Willian then saw a deflected free kick drop just past the far post before Watford began to gain a foothold in the game, and it was the Hornets who began to look more like scoring midway through the first half.

The best chances all fell to Ighalo, but he first snatched at a loose ball in the area when very well placed before planting a header wide having beaten Cesar Azpilicueta in the air from a corner.

Those misses were punished shortly after the half-hour mark when Chelsea registered the first goal in Hiddink's second era at the club, and it was Costa, booed by a pro-Jose Mourinho Stamford Bridge last weekend, who got the goal.

John Terry won the initial ball from Willian's corner, and it dropped to Costa on the edge of the six-yard box, allowing the Spaniard to lash home a first-time volley from close range.

Oscar squandered a good chance to double that advantage seven minutes later, while Watford came close themselves when Jose Jurado's deflected free kick flew narrowly past the post.

The Hornets would not have to wait much longer for their equaliser, however, as Nemanja Matic's bizarre handball gifted the visitors a penalty that Deeney duly dispatched to send the sides in level at the break.

Things got even better for Watford 10 minutes into the second half as, moments after Etienne Capoue had twice been denied, they completed the turnaround through Ighalo's 13th league goal of the season.

The Nigerian created a yard of room for himself to go for goal, and his deflected effort beat Thibaut Courtois as he became the first Watford player to ever score in five consecutive top-flight matches.

The lead lasted less than 10 minutes, however, as Costa doubled his personal tally to restore parity, latching on to Willian's incisive through-ball before slotting his finish past Heurelho Gomes.

Costa almost made it a hat-trick shortly afterwards when he attacked the front post to get on the end of Oscar's cross, but his bundled effort went narrowly wide.

The best chance for the hosts to regain the lead arrived with 10 minutes of the match remaining when Watford sub Valon Behrami clattered into the returning Eden Hazard inside the box, leaving Andre Marriner no option but to point to the spot for the second time in the match.

Unlike Deeney late in the first half, however, Oscar was unable to take advantage as he slipped when striking the ball, sending the spot kick well over the crossbar.

The visitors provided a late scare when both Ighalo and Deeney saw shots blocked in quick succession, but the match ended all square to leave Watford unbeaten in five and level on points with Manchester United.

amp_article__262908 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2015-12-26 18:56:36:
html db last update - 2021-02-17 05:13:45 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .