London, Jan. 20 (IANS): Defending champions Chelsea on Saturday defeated hosts Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 in the 24th round of English Premier League, earning their first win in 2018.
Eden Hazard (3rd and 77th minutes), Willian (6th) and Victor Moses (89th) scored for the Antonio Conte-coached side which is provisionally third on the EPL table with 50 points from 24 games.
Five of Chelsea's footballers were out of action; the injured Cesc Fabregas, Gary Cahill and Thibaut Courtois, as well as sanctioned Alvero Morata and Pedro Rodriguez, both of whom were sent off during the win over Norwich in the FA Cup, reports Efe.
Belgian playmaker Hazard put Chelsea on the scoreboard just three minutes into the game, while Willian doubled the score three minutes later, smashing the ball into the top-right corner following a stroke of team work majesty to get through the Brighton defence.
In the 77th minute, Hazard scored Chelsea's third goal in a great solo effort and Moses increased the tally with one minute to go before stoppage time, taking the ball down in the box from a long ball before slipping it past the keeper.
Conte said that his side showed great personality to be a team despite missing players through suspension and injury.
