Mata sparkles as Chelsea ease past Norwich

He didn’t get on the score sheet today, but Juan Mata was the star of the show at Stamford Bridge today. The creative Spanish midfielder was involved in all the attacking play of Chelsea, linking constantly and fluently with Fernando Torres, Eden Hazard and Oscar.

Chelsea were given a scare when the returning Grant Holt latched on to a ball in the box ans smashed the opening goal with a ferocious shot in the 11th minute. It didn’t take Chelsea long to get back on terms, however. Torres got on the end of a cross just three minutes later and powered his header into the corner of the net.

Chelsea looked like they could score at will and were 3-1 up at half time. Another powerful shot from Frank Lampard and a cool finish from Hazard put the game out of sight for the visitors. The players continued to dominate in the second half, but without the same urgency.

Ramires and the two Spaniards Oriol Romeu and Cesar Azpilicueta came on in the second half and added to Norwich’s problems, but it was the right back Branislav Ivanovic who grabbed the fourth goal for Chelsea.