EPL: Chelsea beats Saints in five-goal thriller

Relegation-threatened Southampton threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Chelsea in Saturday’s Premier League clash at St Mary’s.
The Saints entered the match in 18th position in the table, and having not won a league game on home soil in 2018.
Dusan Tadic sent Mark Hughes’s side on their way, before debutant Jan Bednarek doubled their advantage in the second period.
Chelsea scored three times in the space of eight minutes to turn the match on its head, however, with Olivier Giroud netting either side of a goal from Eden Hazard.
The result means that Southampton remain inside the Premier League relegation zone, while Chelsea stay fifth in the division – six points clear of sixth-placed Arsenal.
Southampton were having joy in the wide positions, and it was from that avenue that they managed to make the breakthrough in the 21st minute, with Ryan Bertrand showing excellent pace and strength to drive down the left – holding off Cesar Azpilicueta in the process – before delivering a low cross into Tadic, who finished into the back of the net.
The home side doubled their advantage on the hour when debutant Bednarek side-footed a wonderful Ward-Prowse free kick into the far corner of the net.
Chelsea were back in the contest in the 70th minute, however, when Giroud, who had not long been on the field, headed a Marcos Alonso cross into the bottom corner of the net.
Hazard then smashed a Willian cross into the roof of the net in the 75th minute as the away side levelled the scores.
Chelsea were not finished though, and scored their third three minutes later when Giroud stroked a loose ball into the bottom corner to break Southampton hearts.
The home side had a late half-chance through Josh Sims, but the midfielder fired straight at Courtois as Chelsea secured all the points in spectacular fashion ahead of their meeting in the semi-finals of the FA Cup next weekend.