Chelsea overwhelm Everton 5-0 in EPL

Belgian winger Eden Hazard fired a brace as a ruthless Chelsea blanked Everton 5-0 to move to the top of the English Premier League (EPL) football tournament here.

Chelsea on Sunday were 3-0 up till half-time with goals from Hazard (19th minute), Marcos Alonso (20th) and Diego Costa (42nd). Hazards marked his brace in the 56th minute before Pedro Rodriguez completed Everton's annihilation in the 65th minute.

This win -- their fifth in a row -- put Antonio Conte-coached Chelsea at the top of the EPL table, with 25 points from 11 matches. Everton, following the loss, are sixth with 18 matches from 11 points.

Chelsea found their momentum early in the game and pressed high, not allowing Everton to run behind their defence at the Stamford Bridge stadium.

Hazard made it 1-0 in the 19th minute when he scored a typical goal past Maarten Stekelenburg after cutting in from the left and few seconds later, Spaniard Alonso converted Pedro's cross from the right to make it 2-0. It was Alonso's first goal for Chelsea after moving from Fiorentina.

It was a dream start for the hosts, who continued their good work. Costa marked his ninth goal of the campaign as he scored from a corner to make it 3-0 in the 42nd minute.

Despite holding the three-goal advantage, Conte's men didn't relent in the second half. Hazard produced a sublime goal to make it 4-0 in the 56th minute and Pedro too got onto the scoresheet in the 65th minute.

--IANS

pur/vt