What was the secret to the Anglo-Nigerian hitman's success as he scored twice to down Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday?
On Saturday, Tammy Abraham got his critics off his back with his first senior goals for Chelsea, the club he joined 15 years ago as an U-8 academy player.
After a relatively good start to the season, despite criticism and even despicable racist abuse, Abraham was handed his second start for Chelsea having been used from the bench in the previous two matches.
How did Abraham go from Chelsea prospect to Blues star?
What was the secret to the Anglo-Nigerian hitman's success as he scored twice to down Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday?
On Saturday, Tammy Abraham got his critics off his back with his first senior goals for Chelsea, the club he joined 15 years ago as an U-8 academy player.
After a relatively good start to the season, despite criticism and even despicable racist abuse, Abraham was handed his second start for Chelsea having been used from the bench in the previous two matches.
Editors' Picks
Serie A best defender Koulibaly to wear special badge for 2019-20 season
Nigeria striker Oshoala scores to lift first silverware with Barcelona
Pepe snaps Van Dijk dribble streak at 50-game mark as Arsenal forward beats Liverpool defender
'Dreams do come true' - Chelsea's Abraham reveals joy after slaying Norwich
Coming up against an attacking Norwich City side with very adventurous full-backs, Frank Lampard went for Abraham’s greater mobility and ability to stretch teams over target man, Olivier Giroud.
By full-time, he had former England striker, Peter Crouch, speaking on BT Sport, praising his display.
“The reason he was playing today was because he was pulling Norwich into areas they didn’t want to go. That’s his strength, but on the flip side I thought he held the ball very, very well."
It took under three minutes for the 21-year-old to open his account in blue.
With Kurt Zouma being aggressively pressed, Abraham moved out to the left to be an out-ball. His excellent backheel sent Mason Mount away into space, and when the ball was switch over to the right, Abraham had burst into the box and isolated himself against Norwich’s 19-year-old right back, Max Aarons.
When the cross came in, Abraham dropped into space and finished first-time with his right foot.
That goal was his 61st in his senior football, having notched 26 times for each for Bristol City and Aston Villa, and eight times for Swansea City.
Every single one of those goals has come from inside the box.
Many of Chelsea’s best moments in the first half had Abraham strongly involved in the play. His lay-off set up Mount for a shot from range, then his ball around the corner set Mateo Kovacic away into space before the latter was pulled back.
Later on, there was another flick to Mount, who then tried a ball up the side of the defence which Abraham had not read.
That was the only moment where the duo weren't on the same page.
Another strong piece of play with his back-to-goal saw him tee up Mount to have a shot blocked, and Abraham’s follow-up effort was also charged down.
Once Norwich had levelled though, they became much more aggressive in their defending against Chelsea’s number nine. On a couple of occasions, he lost the ball under pressure although one was a risky tackle on him inside the box having initially fought well against both centre backs to hold the ball from Jorginho’s longer pass.
In the second half, Abraham was less involved in the play. He did manage one fine around-the-corner pass into Christian Pulisic’s path, but the American was muscled off the ball in a good position inside the box.
The game’s deciding moment was provided by the striker in the 68th minute.
As Chelsea counter-attacked, Abraham showed excellent movement to first stretch Norwich’s defence by motioning to run in-behind, then coming short to receive, cutting inside both centre-backs and firing in from 20 yards.
That was his first goal in senior football outside the 18 yard area.
Source: Goal.com
0 Comments