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Chelsea 4 Watford 0November 11, 2006
DIDIER DROGBA gunned down Watford with a stunning treble as Chelsea ran riot.
Drogba, a constant threat throughout, slammed home his second treble of the season.
The Ivory Coast hitman, who has now scored 14 this season, also turned provider for Andriy Shevchenko.
Drogba created his first chance of the afternoon when his fifth minute header was blocked by the Watford defence.
With just 10 minutes of the clock, Drogba hooked Geremi's free-kick wide of Ben Foster's left-hand upright.
Jose Mourinho urged his side forward and it had the desired effect.
Michael Ballack found Geremi on the right who clipped the ball back to Frank Lampard.
Lampard's curling cross though was headed over the bar by Drogba.
Despite the chances, Reading were matching Chelsea for effort and were stifling the game in midfield.
But the breakthrough arrived in the 27th minute when Drogba scored his 12th goal of the season.
Geremi once again crossed from the right and found the Ivory Coast striker to prod home from six yards.
Drogba added his second in the 35th minute after Chelsea carved open the Watford defence with ease.
Lampard and Ballack combined in midfield to find Drogba.
He played a neat one-two with Andriy Shevchenko before firing home from an acute angle.
It was not vintage Chelsea but the champions had enough power and pace to overcome Watford's stubborn resistance.
Watford did get a sniff before the break when Cudicini did well to deny Dan Shittu.
In the 48th minute Chelsea almost made it three when Drogba put Ballack in the clear but his cheeky lob fell the wrong side of the upright.
Five minutes later the Blues stretched their lead when Drogba played a clever ball to Shevchenko who chested the ball round Foster before finishing.
Chelsea were in cruise control in what must have been one of the easiest afternoons they have experienced in the Premiership.
Drogba's hat-trick goal in the 69th minute was simplicity itself.
Sub Arjen Robben collected the ball on the right wing before sending the overlapping Geremi free.
The full-back's low cross was perfectly placed for Drogba to fire past Foster and notch his second treble of the season.
In the 87th minute Robben was just wide with a drive from 18 yards.
In the final seconds Carvalho headed just wide of the right-hand upright as Chelsea completed a five victory.
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