(Football news) Wesley Fofana’s header earned Chelsea a rare goal and win against Leeds United on Saturday as it eased pressure on Graham Potter. Chelsea in the first half were dominant as on-loan Portuguese striker Joao Felix rattled the bar but it was not until the 53rd minute when Fofana put away Ben Chilwell’s corner. It was their first win since Jan. 15 for Potter’s side who were forced to defend in the second half as Leeds, had two golden chances in the first half to score. In the first half Raheem Sterling cut the ball back for Joao Felix but his shot hit the bar.
Chilwell was proving to be a menace as he was involved in most of their dangerous moves. Potter withdrew Sterling and Joao Felix in the second half as the home side were pinned back by Leeds who surged forward but ultimately couldn’t score. In stoppage time Meslier had a golden chance to equalise from a corner as he connected with the ball but his header went straight into the arms of Kepa Arrizabalaga. The narrow win leaves Chelsea in 10th place but it is a big boost before their second leg last-16 Champions League game with Dortmund at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, when they need to score twice to overcome the one goal deficit.
“It’s a confidence boost and a morale boost,” Potter said, while Leeds coach Javi Gracia, who took over at the Yorkshire club only 10 days ago, described the defeat as “frustrating.”
Adama Traore scored late as Wolves stunned a wasteful Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at the Molineux Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday. Raul Jimenez who was brought on as a replacement for the injured Diego Costa, sent a powerful shot at Tottenham reserve goalkeeper Fraser Forster in the 82nd minute that the Spurs keeper could only parry into the path of Traore, who made with a first time finish made no as the ball bounced from the underside of the post and into the goal. The win moved Wolves up to 13th in the table, while Spurs stayed fourth, four points behind third-placed Manchester United. While Liverpool closed in the gap to three points with a match in hand. The defeat was Spurs’ second in a row after their 1-0 loss at Sheffield United as they go into their Champions League fixture against AC Milan very much under pressure.
“It’s been tough, a really disappointing week. All we can do is look forward now,” Spurs captain Harry Kane said. “We have 12 or 13 games now to push for that top four place. The games come around quickly and we have to look to the next one.”
“We worked really hard to get the three points today,” said Neves, whose team are six points clear of the relegation zone. “We are in the middle of a war, playing every single game as a final.”
Also read: Premier League: Liverpool score seven past Manchester United at Anfield
