Per week of exceptional turmoil for Chelsea ended with a second of pleasure.
In a recreation that got here to characterize the Premier League’s connections to so-called “sportswashing” by way of unsavory house owners, Kai Havertz netted an 89th-minute winner to offer Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Newcastle within the Premier League on Sunday.
Havertz used a phenomenal first contact to regulate a move into the field after which slotted a peaceful end into the online to spark off wild celebrations some of the capability crowd at Stamford Bridge.
It can be a while ahead of Chelsea performs in entrance of a sold-out house stadium once more after the United Kingdom govt imposed sanctions on Russian proprietor Roman Abramovich, however the uncertainty surrounding the membership’s long run has to this point now not had an impact at the box.
FULL-TIME Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle
Kai Havertz baggage an 89th minute winner to finish Newcastle’s seven fit unbeaten run#CHENEW %.twitter.com/LRXIl37FeF
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 13, 2022
The win adopted a 3-1 victory over Norwich on Thursday and maintained Chelsea’s cast grip on 3rd position within the standings. For Newcastle, it used to be the membership’s first league lack of the yr, finishing a nine-game unbeaten run.
In different video games, relegation-threatened Watford and Leeds each earned much-needed wins, whilst Everton’s struggles endured and Ukraine ahead Andriy Yarmolenko scored an emotional function to assist in giving West Ham a victory.
However the Chelsea-Newcastle conflict used to be all the time going to be the day’s standout recreation as a result of occasions off the pitch.
Chelsea has been granted a different license to stay taking part in after Abramovich used to be sanctioned as a result of his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, halting his try to promote the membership.
Newcastle, in the meantime, is going through renewed scrutiny after Saudi Arabia staged a mass execution on Saturday, placing to demise 81 other people convicted of more than a few crimes. Newcastle used to be purchased by way of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in October, even if each the membership and the Premier League have insisted that the Saudi state isn’t concerned within the working of the membership.
Havertz can have been lucky to flee with only a yellow card for elbowing Dan Burn within the head in an aerial duel within the first 1/2. In any case, his function intended Chelsea escaped with a win that can quell communicate of a full-blown disaster — for now.
“You’re feeling sorry for everybody within the membership, the supporters, additionally the employees, now not just for us pros, for the academy, for everybody, it’s a tricky time,” Havertz mentioned. “However we simply attempted to offer the whole thing for them within the second and if you’ll give them moments like this, it’s all the time great as a result of all of us have to face in combination in those instances and we attempted to do this. We attempt to win video games and provides them a excellent feeling.”
RELEGATION FIGHT HEATS UP
Within the tightening race to steer clear of relegation, Watford and Leeds each boosted their probabilities of staying up whilst Everton slipped nearer to falling by the wayside of the highest flight for the primary time in 71 years.
Cucho Hernandez netted two times to offer Watford a 2-1 win at Southampton, whilst Leeds ended a six-game dropping streak by way of beating last-place Norwich by way of the similar rating because of an injury-time winner.
FULL-TIME Southampton 1-2 Watford
Watford passed a survival spice up thank you to 2 targets from Cucho Hernandez#SOUWAT %.twitter.com/LGWvWo2YdO
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 13, 2022
Kenny McLean had equalized for Norwich originally of stoppage time however Joe Gelhardt then got here off the bench to internet the winner for Leeds and hand American supervisor Jesse Marsch his first victory on the 3rd strive.
Not anything like a final minute winner ?#LEENOR %.twitter.com/7ZjmrpVzMf
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 13, 2022
At Goodison Park, boyhood Liverpool fan Conor Coady headed house a second-half winner for Wolverhampton to safe a 1-0 victory over 10-man Everton.
FULL-TIME Everton 0-1 Wolves
An early second-half function from Conor Coady claims all 3 issues for Wolves#EVEWOL %.twitter.com/EYZn6xE7xO
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 13, 2022
The England world expertly glanced house Ruben Neves’ move and Jonjoe Kenny used to be then despatched off for 2 yellow playing cards within the house of 3 mins to wreck Everton’s hopes of a comeback.
The consequences imply Watford is now tied on issues with Seventeenth-place Everton, even if Frank Lampard’s workforce has 3 video games in hand. Leeds moved 4 issues above the relegation zone.
YARMOLENKO IN TEARS
Yarmolenko used to be again in West Ham’s squad for the primary time since being granted compassionate depart because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and used to be in tears after netting the outlet function to lend a hand his workforce beat Aston Villa 2-1.
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— Premier League (@premierleague) March 13, 2022
Yarmolenko celebrated his Seventieth-minute function by way of losing to his knees with each fingers pointing as much as the sky as he used to be mobbed by way of his teammates.
Slightly a dry eye within the London Stadium…
An emotional Andriy Yarmolenko receives a fantastic ovation from the West Ham enthusiasts at full-time after his function this afternoon ?? %.twitter.com/sJASLD6SyL
— Sky Sports activities Information (@SkySportsNews) March 13, 2022
Yarmolenko had won a status ovation from each units of enthusiasts as he got here on as a 53rd-minute exchange for Michail Antonio.
Pablo Fornals doubled the lead within the 82nd ahead of Jacob Ramsey pulled one again for Villa in harm time.
Arsenal used to be taking part in Leicester within the past due recreation.