Chelsea vs Stoke match report: Eden Hazard and Loic Remy fire Chelsea into seven point lead despite brilliant Charlie Adam goal

It’s just that their route to the title may not be as easy as anticipated. That could largely be down to the fact Costa suffered such a painful evening, as he was taken off just 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Jose Mourinho’s side still had enough to win the game, with the brilliant Eden Hazard adding to his first-half penalty by setting up Loïc Rémy for the winner, finally ensuring the effects of Adam’s wonder goal were not as far-reaching as they might have been.

Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 – player ratings

Chelsea didn’t start the game in the jaded manner of their last few league matches, as they came out looking much more refreshed. It translated into a flurried opening spell. Rémy almost scored within two minutes, as his wickedly deflected effort was just about turned away by a stretching Asmir Begovic when the ball seemed to be heading for the corner. The goalkeeper was also the main factor in preventing the home side making good on that energetic start and storming into the lead, as he met every Chelsea wave with a save.

Beyond that, Remy went close with a curled effort, Oscar put the ball the wrong side of the post when he should have scored, and Hazard blazed over. As Chelsea’s frustration grew in the face of Stoke’s physicality, they increasingly looked to the Belgian for creativity. Eden Hazard rolled in a cool penalty for the opener

He eventually provided it, but that after Cesc Fabregas had exploited the very physicality Stoke used so well. The Spanish midfielder had been cut down by a rough Philip Wollscheid challenge on the halfhour, and he was to take his revenge. As Chelsea again forced Stoke back on 38 minutes, Fabregas found himself again facing up to an abrasive Wollscheid lunge. The defender took him out, but Fabregas made sure to accentuate the fall.

It was still a certain penalty, and Hazard made certain of scoring. He outfoxed Begovic, sending him the wrong way. If that was expected, what happened next was anything but. Chelsea seemed to be cruising, to the point they were pushing more and more men forward. They were to be caught out on 44 minutes, but in a way that not even Mourinho could have imagined.

With Courtois well off his line, Adam picked up the ball 59 metres from goal, looked up, and just had a go. It worked, as the midfielder scored one of the most sensational goals that will be seen this season, or in any season. His effort was certainly further back than David Beckham’s back in the 1996-97 season. Adam may be relatively immobile for a midfielder, but he certainly made the ball move. Courtois couldn’t get close to it. Charlie Adam equalised with a breathtaking goal from inside his own half

Mourinho realised he had to do something to win this match, as Chelsea seemed to have been totally caught cold. Costa was brought of for the under-performing Oscar, and there was immediately more bite to the home side’s attack, as they went to a 4-4-2. It also quickly backfired, as Costa was forced off with a recurrence of his hamstring injury on 55 minutes. At one point, the Spaniard was prone on the ground in pain, and had to be helped off the pitch. It was reminiscent of the end of his 2013-14 campaign with Atletico

Madrid, right down to the manner in which he was limping. Costa looked forlorn, as Didier Drogba came on in his place. Not fit enough to start, Diego Costa lasted just 11 minutes after coming on before he had to go back off again

Chelsea had almost gone 2-1 up just before that moment, but there was a familiar obstacle, as Begovic brilliantly tipped away Willian’s deflected free-kick. That was cruel, because the goalkeeper then made the error that cost Stoke. Begovic attempted a pass out, only to play it straight to Costa. He fed Hazard who then burst straight through the centre, before squaring for Remy to easily tap in. One consolation for Chelsea is that the French striker has kept up a superb scoring rate in Costa’s absence. He may have to keep it going now.

Hazard then set up Juan Cuadrado for what should have been his first Chelsea goal, although Begovic was again equal to it.

Chelsea look to have no equals this season, although they may need more players to start matching the end product produced by Costa and Hazard. Chelsea capitalised on an Asmir Begovic mistake for Loic Remy to score the winner

Chelsea: (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar (Costa, 45; Drogba, 55), Hazard; Remy (Cuadrado, 62)

Stoke City: (4-4-1-1) Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Wilson; Ireland (Crouch, 78), N’Zonzi, Whelan, Adam (Pieters, 78); Walters; Diouf (Arnautovic, 62)

Referee: Jonathan Moss.

Man of the match: Hazard (Chelsea).

Match rating: 7/10.

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