Chelsea Vs Lille: The Blues Win 2-0 Through Havertz And Pulisic Goals

Havertz and Pulisic celebrate Chelsea goal (Twitter @chelseaFC)

JAKARTA - Chelsea won convincingly 2-0 at home to Lille in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday morning.

Launching Antara, Chelsea immediately opened the scoring through Kai Havertz's quick goal before Christian Pulisic doubled the lead in the second half.

The second leg match is scheduled to take place at Stade Pierre-Mauroy Stadium on 17 March.

Happy #Twosday! 😜

🔵 2-0 ⚪️ | #CheLil pic.twitter.com/JHLOxIJwrp

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 22, 2022

Playing as the host, Chelsea immediately stepped on the gas since the match started.

The Blues almost scored in the 5th minute. Cesar Azpilicueta's pass from the right was completed by Kai Havertz in front of the goal. However, the German player's flick was still soaring.

Havertz could finally open the scoring in the 8th minute. Hakim Ziyech's corner from the left was met by Havertz's fine header to beat Lille goalkeeper Leo Jardim. The score became 1-0.

Lille came close to equalizing in the 11th minute after defender Antonio Ruediger made a mistake. The German defender's sweep dispelled Renato Sanches' cross, which actually went into his own net.

However, Eduardo Mendy's goal survived because the ball was still flying slightly.

Chelsea again spread the threat in the 18th minute. N'Golo Kante's bait met Marcos Alonso on the side of the Lille penalty box.

Alonso immediately released a volley, but his efforts were not fruitful because it was still right in Jardim's arms.

Lille slowly began to reduce Chelsea entering the middle of the first half. They tried to reply to attacks from long-distance kick Benjamin Andre. However, Mendy was able to suppress it.

The score of 1-0 to Chelsea's advantage did not change until the first half was complete.

After the break, Lille appeared more attacking, but their pressure could still be blocked by the Chelsea defense.

In the 58th minute, Havertz who won the ball from the middle of the field dribbled into the Lille penalty box. However, the action failed to return to a goal because the shot was still not on target.

Thomas Tuchel's squad was finally able to double their advantage in the 63rd minute. Kante with his speed of dribbling from the midfield. He thrust the ball into the left side of the penalty box which Christian Pulisic could finish into a goal.

Winning 2-0, Chelsea increasingly dominates possession of the ball. However, they lowered the tempo to secure the win.

There were no additional goals until the second half ended and Chelsea secured a 2-0 aggregate advantage for the second leg match.

Line-up Chelsea (3-4-3): Edouard Mendy; Thiago Silva, Antonio Ruediger, Andreas Christensen, Mateo Kovacic (Ruben Loftus-Cheek 51'), N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso (Malang Sarr 80'), Cesar Azpilicueta, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic (Timo Werner 80'), Hakim Ziyech (Saul Niguez 60').

Lille (4-2-3-1): Leo Jardim; Sven Botman, Jose Fonte, Tiago Djalo (Gabriel Gudmundsson 76'), Zeki Celik, Amadou Onana (Burak Yilmaz 65'), Xeka, Jonathan David (Edon Zhegrova 81'), Jonathan Bamba, Renato Sanches (Hatem Ben Arfa 81')