Premier Division: Chelsea maintain elite form with demolition of Southampton
Chelsea produced another masterclass at the Drogba Arena, demolishing Southampton 8-0 in a dominant English Premier Division display. The hosts looked imperious from the outset, with their attacking movement and intensity proving far too much for their visitors.
World-class midfielder Pelé opened the scoring with a sensational close-range volley, capitalising on a defensive lapse by Aiden Edgar. Netanel Sahar then added a brace, showing his poacher’s instincts with two instinctive finishes — the second following an error from Maksimović.
Full-back Luther Banton, starting ahead of the in-form Nabil Lahyane, made his mark with a thunderous effort that rippled the net on 42 minutes. His attacking output continues to highlight the intense competition between him and Lahyane for the left-back berth.
Joseph Haigh continued his excellent form with a first-half brace — a sublime curling effort into the top corner followed by a commanding header before the break. However, injury concerns remain as he continues to manage fitness issues following a recent hamstring problem.
Júnior, the electric Brazilian winger, capped off a stellar individual display with a fierce finish following a defensive miscue by Marcos Delfino. His performance, which included 5 dribbles and 10.3km covered, earned him the Player of the Match with a 9.8 rating. Júnior’s form has been nothing short of spectacular, often tipping the balance in tight fixtures.
Kostas Themistokleous added further gloss with a sharp header from inside the six-yard box before Scott Crichton coolly slotted home a penalty late on to seal the emphatic win. Chelsea now boast 49 games unbeaten in the league and remain top of the table — imperious, focused, and chasing history.
Despite the result, the match was marred slightly by two injury setbacks. Right-back Rogério José sustained a pulled hamstring, expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks, while central defender Francesco Rustignoli picked up bruised ribs. Both players’ absences will test Chelsea’s depth in the coming weeks.
Tottenham boss Aster Vranckx was also spotted at the Drogba Arena amid speculation linking him with interest in Beya and Arwyn Rees. With transfer whispers circling and key players thriving, Chelsea’s season continues to build towards something special under Calin Dimario.
Final Score: Chelsea 8-0 Southampton
Player of the Match: Júnior (Chelsea) – 9.8 Match Rating