Slavia Prague 0-1 Chelsea: Marcos Alonso’s late header seals crucial win for Blues in Prague

Slavia Prague 0-1 Chelsea: Marcos Alonso’s late header seals crucial win for Blues in Prague
A late Marcos Alonso header saw a lacklustre Chelsea edge past Slavia Prague 1-0 in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie.The Spain full-back ghosted clear in the box to nod home Willian’s teasing far-post cross, to hand the Blues the slender advantage midway through their quarter-final.Chelsea came very close drawing their last-eight first leg tie at the Sinobo Stadium, the Blues struggling for fluency throughout a niggly night in Prague.3

A late Alonso header sealed a win for Chelsea in Prague

Replacement Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s smart spin and break turned Slavia’s defence at the death however, before Willian served up the perfect cross.Alonso’s third goal of the season and second in the Europa League proved just enough for Chelsea then, but the Stamford Bridge men will hardly be happy with their performance.Chelsea will now expect to complete the job and move through to the semi-finals when hosting Slavia in the return leg next Thursday.The Blues were relieved to prevail on the pitch, in another night where racism hit the headlines. Chelsea’s security team identified and barred entry to the stadium for three supporters, who had taken part in a video on social media where Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah appeared to be racially abused.Three other supporters in the video did not attempt to enter the Sinobo Stadium.The best Chelsea could muster in a piecemeal first-half was Willian’s curled effort that struck the crossbar.Slavia captain Simon Deli wasted a fine early chance by nodding wide. Then Vladimir Coufal failed to connect fully with a skewed header of his own.getty3

Willian was Chelsea’s standout player in the match

Miroslav Stoch stung Kepa’s palms, but his strike was never likely to beat the Chelsea stopper.If Chelsea’s first-half was flat, the opening to the second was little short of tetchy.The Blues’ glowering looks and gesticulations escalated amid increasingly raucous home support.Lukas Masopust turned last man Andreas Christensen only to slip, letting Chelsea hugely off the hook.3

Sarri’s men are now in a commanding position for the return leg at Stamford Bridge

Not even an hour had elapsed when Sarri threw on talisman Eden Hazard in place of Pedro, the Stamford Bridge boss itching for an injection of impetus.Antonio Rudiger saw his low effort rebuffed by Ondrej Kolar, and then Willian dragged wide from a promising position.Ibrahim-Benjamin Traore raced clear for Slavia, only to see his fine long-range effort tipped round the post by Kepa.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2... 

• Southampton vs Wolves (Saturday, 3pm) talkSPORT 2
• Manchester United vs West Ham (Saturday, 5:30pm) talkSPORT
• Leeds vs Sheffield Wednesday (Saturday, 5:30pm) talkSPORT 2
• Wigan vs Norwich (Sunday, 12pm) talkSPORT 2
• Crystal Palace vs Manchester City (Sunday, 2:05pm) talkSPORT

N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were also sent into the fray as Chelsea chased a breakthrough.Jorginho had the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was chalked off with Olivier Giroud offside.A poor punch by Kepa gifted an opening to Jan Boril, but the Chelsea keeper conjured a solid stop to deny the full-back, immediately sparing his own blushes.Just when Chelsea looked like labouring to the draw however, the visitors conjured the move of the match even capped with a smart finish.Loftus-Cheek powered through midfield on the turn, before spreading out right to Willian.The Brazilian steadied himself and whipped in a far-post cross, that Alonso nodded into the corner of the net.

---

Everton 2-2 Watford: Javi Gracia says result would have been different if 'VAR was ready today' The Hornets were on the end of some questionable refereeing decisions as they were held at
Premier League news: Javi Gracia calls for VAR - 'It's

---

May 22, 2017 · 6. Arsenal's total of 75 points was the most for a team finishing fifth in the Premier League era. 7. An all-time low of 11.6 per cent of goals this season were scored from outside the box.
2018/19 Premier League Club Stats & Season Archives

---

Transfer news and football gossip: Chelsea and Arsenal approach Insigne, Man United scout Barella, Tottenham's Christian Eriksen 'agrees' to join Real Madrid Plus, Spurs wanted over £100m
Liverpool - Transfer News - 10 January 2019
atomicsoda.com/liverpool/transfer-news/10-jan-2019/roma-v-liverpool
Transfer news, rumours LIVE: Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham latest and today's football gossip London Evening Standard - Thu Jan 10 7:39 AM Barcelona could transfer Philippe Coutinho to fund deal to bring Neymar back to Camp Nou
Transfer Window Gossip Round-Up - Read Premier League

---

Real Madrid are ready to launch a staggering 300m euro (£270m) bid to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in Spain. Bernabeu president Florentino Perez is yet to replace
Barcelona willing to send two regulars to Paris Saint-Germain

---

Last month, former Manchester City captain Richard Dunne said Mendy needed to cut back on social media.. The France international is very active on Twitter and Instagram. Dunne, who made 352
Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy To Cut Back On Tweets After

---

Pep Guardiola trusts Manchester City to resolve Financial Fair Play allegations European soccer's governing body opened a formal investigation into the alleged FFP violations on Thursday, a move Manchester City welcomed in a bid to end speculation surrounding the club's sponsorship agreements.
Pep Guardiola sure of Manchester City's innonence amid FFP

---

Read full articles from Manchester United squad vs Liverpool FC revealed and explore endless topics, magazines and more on your phone or tablet with Google News.
Tottenham vs Chelsea head-to-head: Who wins the on-pitch

---

Welcome to the Evening Standard's LIVE blog dedicated to the latest transfer news and rumours. Tottenham are willing to sell Vincent Janssen for a West Ham forward Andy Carroll is a
Tottenham news live: Star's injury update, interest in

---

Kilmarnock are set to become the first British club to install a safe-standing section for under-16s and, in another UK first, the new rail seats will be entirely funded by their fans.. The seats
Kilmarnock U16s safe-standing section is British first - BBC

---

GONE There is just one league game left in the season but Adams and Plymouth have parted company Derek Adams has left his post as Plymouth Argyle manager by mutual consent with just one more game to go this season. Plymouth have lost their last five matches in League One and have not won in their last eight.
Derek Adams leaves Plymouth by mutual consent as Argyle fall
newsleak24.com/derek-adams-leaves-plymouth-by-mutual-consent-as-argyle-fall-into-league-one-relegation-zone/
Michael Heseltine: Conservative peer has party whip suspended after saying he will vote for Liberal Democrats; Brexit vote: Theresa May promises 'new bold offer' in bid to persuade MPs to back deal
Plymouth part company with boss Derek Adams with just one

---

Jermain Defoe insists his goalscoring ability is a gift from God after signing an 18-month loan deal with Rangers.. The Bournemouth striker will join up with his new Light Blue team-mates on the
Rangers confirm acquisition of Defoe on 18-month loan deal

---

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has reportedly told the club to complete a deal to sign Ever Banega from Sevilla. Mundo Deportivo report that the Gunners boss is keen to link up with the Argentinian midfielder in London. Banega was heavily linked with a move to London during the summer and now Emery is ready to try his […]
Arsenal 'on the verge of signing Ever Banega after his agent

---

Making it's debut at Beijing 2008, the Team Event was a new addition to the Olympic Table Tennis competition. Dimitrij Ovcharov, Timo Boll and Christian Süß were competing in the Men's German team.

---