Burnley vs Chelsea: Havertz nets double as the Blues win 4-0

Kai Havertz scored a double as Chelsea defeated Burnley 4-0 in the Premier League fixture at Turf Moor on Saturday. After a goalless first-half, Thomas Tuchel’s side broke the deadlock two minutes after the interval courtesy of Reece James’ solo goal. And then Havertz’s brace sealed the win before Christain Pulisic completed the drubbing with a fourth. The win helped Chelsea to 53 points from 26 games, and tighten their grip on the third spot. Meanwhile, Burnley remained in the relegation zone with 21 points, one behind 17th-placed Everton.

Also read: Liverpool vs West Ham: The Reds win 1-0 courtesy of Mane’s early strike

Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Burnley was the biggest by an away team in the #PL that was goalless at half-time since Spurs at Aston Villa in 2012 (also 4-0)#BURCHE pic.twitter.com/U2OeICnbgb

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 5, 2022

The first real chance of the match was created by Chelsea when Saul’s cross from the left found an onrushing James at the far post but the wing-back’s effort was blocked in front of goal by Charlie Taylor. Few minutes later, Burnley keeper Nick Pope made a decent save to deny Antonio Rudiger from 25 Yards.

After the initial burst from the visitors the action shifted to Chelsea’ goal with McNeil getting a golden chance to take the lead before the half-hour mark. Edourad Mendy flapped at Ashley Westwood’s deep cross and the ball fell to McNeil, but with the Chelsea goal gaping in front of him, he fired his shot over the crossbar.  

Chelsea came out with a bit more intent in the second half and took the lead on 47 minutes when James made space for a shot with some brilliant footwark before lashing the opener past Pope from the right side of the penalty area.

It was a fantastic second half: Tuchel

The Blues doubled the lead five minute later when Pulisic cut inside from the right side of the box and delivered a perfect inswinging cross for Havertz to head home at the far post. The Burnley collapse was complete when two became three on 55 minutes. Havertz tapped-in from James’ cross to complete his brace and doubled his Premier League tally for the season.

Pulisic, who was having a very good game deservingly got on the score-sheet on 69 minutes when he capitalised on James Tarkowski’s error to slot in a fourth. 

After the match, Tuchel said: “It was very calm, we just reminded everybody what we wanted to do, where the spaces were, and where we also needed to step up. It was clearly up front; we needed to ask more questions and make life more difficult for their back four.

“The goal opened the game for us and gave us a lot of belief and confidence, and then our attacks were more fluid, and we were absolutely more decisive. We had a bit of a switch in tactics to give N’Golo [Kante] more space.

“The team did very well, we kept on believing, and it was a fantastic second half with a brilliant result.”