Chelsea beats Man United 1-0: Eden Hazard scores winner

Championselect Chelsea took a significant step towards the Premier League title as Eden Hazards firsthalf goal secured a clinical 10 home win over inform Manchester United on SaturdayUnited were seeking a seventh consecutive league win but despite bossing possession it was Chelsea who prevailed after Hazard sped through to score his 13th goal of the campaign in the 38th minute at Stamford BridgeChelseas Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard L skips past a Manchester Uniteds English striker Wayne Rooney floor challenge during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London AFP PHOTOThe Belgians strike left his side 10 points clear of secondplace Arsenal who welcome Jose Mourinhos side to the Emirates Stadium next weekend when another Chelsea win will bring a first title since 2010 within reachUniteds recent surge had prompted talk of an improbable title tilt but with Louis van Gaals men 11 points below Chelsea having played a game more automatic Champions League qualification is now their only objectiveAnd while Uniteds football suggested there are better days ahead at Old Trafford it is League Cup winners Chelsea whose last seven wins have all been by a onegoal margin who are on the brink of another coronationA calf injury to Michael Carrick obliged Wayne Rooney to drop into midfield for the visitors but it was to the United captain that the first chance of the match fell on a warm sunny afternoon in west LondonFrom Ashley Youngs pass the overlapping Luke Shaw cut the ball back for Rooney but the United number 10 shots hit the stanchion to the left of the goal and bounced back into the net fooling the travelling fans at the other end into thinking the deadlock had been brokenUnited goalkeeper David de Gea had to toe the ball behind for a corner after Hazards pass sent Cesc Fabregas scampering into the box but for most of the first half the away team looked sereneWith Ander Herrera assuredly anchoring the midfield Van Gaals men were finding passing triangles all over the pitch and they demonstrated their confidence when Paddy McNair advanced and saw a shot deflected wideFalcao hits postAn uninformed observer would perhaps have been forgiven for thinking it was United and not Chelsea who were on the verge of the title but seven minutes before halftime the hosts went in frontA United move broke down when Radamel Falcao failed to control Chris Smallings pass and within seconds Chelsea were in Oscars backheel freeing Hazard to motor through and beat De Gea leftfooted at the near postFalcao making his first start since February 28 got a sniff of goal in firsthalf stoppage time when Rooneys stabbed pass was headed down by Marouane Fellaini but Thibaut Courtois flew out to swat the ball off his toesChelsea sat even deeper in the second half but they came within inches of extending their lead after Herrera inadvertently drilled the ball straight to Nemanja MaticThe Serbians pass freed Didier Drogba whose shot was partially blocked by Smalling sending it looping over De Gea but Hazard following in could only jab the ball against the bar from a tight angleUnited continued to press with Courtois saving from McNair and Rooney at the second attempt while Juan Mata and Falcao also went closeMourinho stiffened his midfield by introducing Ramires in place of Oscar and Van Gaal responded with a double change sending on wingers Angel di Maria and Adnan Januzaj for the final 20 minutesWhile Hazard again worked De Gea United procured another sight of goal with 13 minutes to go when Shaws pass released Falcao only for the Colombians leftfoot shot to strike the outside of the postThere was another scare for Chelsea at the death when Herrera went over Gary Cahills outstretched leg in the penalty area but to the relief of the hosts and the disbelief of the visitors referee Mike Dean adjudged it a dive