With a resounding 7-0 triumph over 10-man Norwich City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Chelsea kept their Premier League lead due to a hat trick by Mason Mount.
Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, the hosts’ first-choice forwards, were both injured in Wednesday’s Champions League triumph over Malmo FF.
As the visitors fought to keep pace with the league leaders, Mount opened the scoring on eight minutes with a drilled shot from the edge of the 18-yard box into the lower left-hand corner.
Chelsea’s lead was extended minutes later when winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tapped past Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul, who was making his third league start of the season. Just before the break, defender Reece James added a third goal, careening down the right-hand side before chipping home from six yards out.
In the second half, Thomas Tuchel’s team continued to dominate, and defender Ben Chilwell took advantage, scoring for the third time in as many Premier League games with a left-footed shot from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Norwich’s day became even worse when defender Max Aarons scored an own goal on 62 minutes, followed by Ben Gibson’s dismissal.
On 82 minutes, Chelsea were awarded a penalties for a handball, which Mount took but Krul saved. The penalty, however, was retaken after it was determined that the Dutch goalkeeper had crossed the line.
Mount made no mistakes on his second effort, easily dispatching Krul. With a strike straight down the middle of Norwich’s goal late in additional time, he scored his third goal.
“I put pressure on myself before the game to get on the scoresheet, and then three came around in the same game.” It’s undeniably a watershed moment for me. “This is one I’ll remember for a long time,” Mount stated after the game.
“I was always going into scoring opportunities, but I couldn’t seem to find the back of the goal.” I felt the last one was a little strange. Today was just my luck, but it’s also about the team. We talked about starting from the beginning before, and we did it today.
“To score three goals at home at Stamford Bridge is a huge achievement for me.”
