Oliver Giroud produced a brilliant overhead kick to give Chelsea a 1-0 vital victory over Atletico Madrid in UEFA champions league in Bucharest Romania on Tuesday night, February 24.
La Liga Leaders, Atletico Madrid were forced to play their home leg over 3,000 kilometres from Madrid due to Spanish restrictions on arrivals from Britain to control the spread of COVID-19 infections.
It was a tight encounter as Giroud acrobatically hooked home with 20 minutes left but the celebrations with halted as the lineman’s flag was raised.
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Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was consulted and it took a deliberation of three minutes for the goal to be awarded, it was found that the ball had deflected off Mario Hermoso rather than Mason Mount.
The 34-year-old Oliver Giroud was given a nod above Tammy Abraham and was keen to impress. He flung himself high in the air to a bobbled ball and thumped it past Jan Oblak straight into the bottom left corner. It was the Franch striker’s sixth champions league goal in four games.
It was Chelsea’s new boss, Thomas Tuchel who faced his toughest test since succeeding Frank Lampard.
He set up his team shrewdly in Bucharest, keeping a lid on Luis Suarez while controlling possession throughout.
The La Liga side couldn’t manage a shot at target as Chelsea put themselves a step closer to the quarter final. The second leg will take place on March 17 and the Blues (Chelsea) will be without the services of Mason Mount and Jurginho as the duo are suspended after being booked.
Giroud always coming through when they need him