If nothing unexpected happens, tonight's game is shaping up to be a high-scoring shootout.
After the restart, the two teams found themselves back at square one.
With the score tied, the Chelsea players were no longer nervous and began calmly executing their pre-match tactical arrangements.
But something peculiar happened.
When Chelsea equalized, it seemed to douse the offensive momentum of both teams. In the minutes that followed, neither Chelsea nor Southampton appeared in a hurry to attack.
For the most part, the battle shifted to the midfield.
After about ten minutes of relative calm, the Chelsea players, playing at home, were the first to break the stalemate.
In midfield, although coach Conte chose not to field Cesc Fabregas tonight, Bakayoko had adapted well to Chelsea's tactical system.
This time, when the ball came to Bakayoko's feet, he immediately showcased his offensive vision.
A quick, precise long ball!
The ball landed perfectly at Hazard's feet.
At this point, Hazard moved decisively to his preferred position on the left wing.
To be honest, Hazard excels on the wing because it allows him to maximize his speed advantage.
Once Hazard received the ball, he launched into an immediate and aggressive attack.
When Hazard builds up momentum, it poses a massive challenge for any defense.
In the blink of an eye, Hazard had already bypassed Cedric Soares with ease.
However, Southampton's defensive organization was still quite impressive.
Before long, two other midfielders rushed to assist in defense: Romeu and Højbjerg.
There's no denying the defensive tenacity of these two players.
They engaged Hazard in direct physical confrontation.
Seeing himself surrounded by three defenders, Hazard made the smart decision to pass the ball at a critical moment.
And with a quick flick!
The ball was back at Su Luo's feet.
At this moment, the tens of thousands of Chelsea fans in Stamford Bridge erupted, chanting Su Luo's name with unparalleled fervor.
After all, for every Chelsea supporter, Su Luo is undeniably their core player.
There's no question about it—Su Luo's performances have been consistently outstanding.
This time, after receiving the ball, Su Luo wasted no time. He made a swift decision to unleash his speed advantage.
With the ball at his feet, he surged into Southampton's half with remarkable pace!
This was a true test for Southampton's defense.
Before long, multiple defenders moved to challenge Su Luo.
Among them were Portland and Wesley Wright.
Both players displayed great awareness and rushed to intercept Su Luo, trying everything to stop his advance.
But Su Luo, accustomed to high-pressure situations, remained completely unfazed by Southampton's defensive efforts.
The ball seemed magnetized to Su Luo's feet.
Despite their best attempts, the two Southampton defenders found themselves unable to halt Su Luo's relentless drive forward.
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