Buoyant Chelsea extended its Premier League lead and calmed nerves at Stamford Bridge with a 4-2 win over Southampton Tuesday that moved them seven points clear of its nearest pursuer Tottenham Hotspur. Goals from Eden Hazard, captain Gary Cahill and two from a buzzing Diego Costa ensured Chelsea stayed on course for the double after it beat Tottenham by the same score in their FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Saturday. The victory pushed Chelsea on to 78 points after 33 games and exerted more pressure on second-placed Spurs, who must win a potentially awkward London derby at Crystal Palace Wednesday to restore the gap to four points. Manager Antonio Conte juggled his team again Tuesday starting with Costa and Hazard, who came off the bench at Wembley, and his tactics were rewarded. It took them less than five minutes to open a lead when Costa controlled a pass from Cesc Fabregas, surged forward and cut the ball back for the advancing Hazard, who angled his shot into the bottom corner of Fraser Forster's net. Claude Puel's Southampton worked its way back into the game, keeping tidy possession in midfield and making surging runs with Sofiane Boufal, Ryan Bertrand and Manolo Gabbiadini looking dangerous. Their industry paid off in the 24th minute when former Chelsea midfielder Oriel Romeu forced home from close range after Gabbiadini's shot clipped the leg of keeper Thibaut Courtois and fell into his path. Chelsea's lead in the Premier League has been chipped away in recent weeks by a resurgent Tottenham, but Saturday's fiery Cup win had clearly boosted Conte's side. It grabbed the lead again just before halftime when a Fabregas corner was cleared only as far as N'Golo Kante 30 meters out. The France midfielder curled the ball back into the area for captain Gary Cahill to head home. Costa, who has been misfiring of late, took his chance in the 53rd minute and powered in a header — his 50th Premier League goal — after a corner and one-two between Fabregas and Hazard. He added a well-worked second for good measure in the 89th after a one-two with Hazard. Southampton scored a stoppage-time consolation through another former Chelsea player Ryan Bertrand. Conte delighted fans by bringing on club captain John Terry, who announced his end-of-season departure from Chelsea last week after more than 18 years as a senior player, for the last five minutes of the game. Villarreal ends Atletico's run Atletico Madrid suffered a first defeat in 13 games in all competitions as it lost 1-0 at home to Villarreal Tuesday after a late strike from substitute Roberto Soriano. The former Sampdoria forward netted for the 10th time in all competitions when he knocked in a cross from fellow substitute Cedric Bakambu in the 82nd minute after an error from Filipe Luis allowed the visitors to break quickly down the right hand side. Atletico winger Yannick Carrasco was forced off in the 72nd minute with a sprained collarbone after clashing with Villarreal defender Antonio Rukavina, putting his participation in next week's Champions League semifinal first leg at Real Madrid in doubt. Atletico remains third in the standings. Tony Adams saw his wretched start to management in Spain continue as his Granada side edged closer toward relegation from La Liga with a 2-0 defeat at home to Malaga. Granada is 19th on 20 points with four games left of the campaign. Sporting Gijon, in 18th, missed the chance to move provisionally one point behind Leganes as it was held to a 1-1 draw at home to Espanyol to edge up to 24 points. Frankfurt in German Cup final Eintracht Frankfurt won 7-6 in a penalty shootout at Borussia Moenchengladbach after a 1-1 draw Tuesday to reach the German Cup final for the first time in 11 years and set up a showdown with either holders Eintracht, who lost the 2006 final to Bayern, won the last of their four German Cups in 1988. Bayern host Dortmund Wednesday for a spot in the May 27 final in Berlin. Angers beat Guingamp Angers returned to the French Cup final for the first time since their only other appearance 60 years ago with a 2-0 semifinal victory over Guingamp Tuesday. After losing 6-3 to Toulouse in the 1957 final, Angers will now, finally, get a second bite at the cherry against either Paris Saint-Germain or Monaco, who face off at the Parc des Princes Wednesday. — Agencies
