Drogba Arena, London — Premier Division, 16 October 2055
Joseph Haigh delivered a masterclass from the right flank as Chelsea swept aside Queens Park Rangers 2–0, extending their winning streak to eight games and tightening their grip on top spot in the Premier Division.
On a rain-lashed afternoon in west London, Chelsea asserted control early. Jairzinho opened the scoring in the 12th minute, turning home from close range after VAR overturned the referee’s initial offside call. The Blues doubled their advantage in the second half when José Francisco Landeira volleyed in from just inside the box following a defensive lapse from QPR’s Branislav Komljenović.
Haigh was the creative heartbeat of the match, registering 16 key passes and an assist while covering 13.5km — a display that earned him a 9.6 rating and the Player of the Match award. His constant pressure and precision passing left QPR chasing shadows throughout.
Chelsea dominated every metric, registering 34 shots to QPR’s 2, commanding 59% of possession, and posting an extraordinary expected goals (xG) figure of 4.75 to 0.06. Referee Andrew Price endured a torrid day, with VAR stepping in twice to correct key calls.
Substitute Thamindu Barkus was booked late on, while Luther Banton played through the pain barrier to steady the back line in the closing minutes. Rustignoli’s substitution due to a pulled ligament will concern Chelsea’s medical staff, though initial reports suggest it’s a minor setback.
Man of the Match: Joseph Haigh (Chelsea) — 9.6 rating, 1 assist, 16 key passes, tireless on the right wing.
With this result, Chelsea remain unbeaten in eight league matches, continuing their imperious form as October unfolds. Their rivals will need something special to halt the blue juggernaut now rolling through England’s top flight.
