Ziyech strikes to keep Chelsea top in dramatic night on and off the pitch

TWO Premier League games last night had to be temporarily suspended due to medical emergencies in the crowd. The match between Watford and Chelsea was halted after a supporter suffered a cardiac arrest.

Referee David Coote took both sets of players off the pitch at Vicarage Road in the 12th minute with the score at 0-0. Almost 25 minutes after the game was stopped, the supporter was carried out on a stretcher and taken to hospital. Meanwhile, at St Mary’s, there was a delay to the start of the second half of Southampton v Leicester after someone in the stands needed medical treatment.

When proceedings resumed on the pitch at Vicarage Road, Chelsea quickly regained their focus and took the lead through Mason Mount — but were pegged back before the break as Emmanuel Dennis struck for the Hornets.

Chelsea threw everything in search of the winner to retain top spot in the table, with Romelu Lukaku coming off the bench to lead the charge. And it paid off. With Watford’s defence dithering, Hakim Ziyech was first to react to a Mount cross as he steered the ball home to clinch a 2-1 win. There was no less drama on the south coast as Leicester twice came from behind to earn a point against Southampton, who took the lead in three minutes through Jan Bednarek. Centre-back Jonny Evans drew Leicester level, but Scotland striker Che Adams headed in Nathan Redmond’s cross to restore the hosts’ advantage before the break.

After the half-time delay, Leicester were level again four minutes later when James Maddison finished neatly into the bottom corner. David Moyes was left frustrated as his West Ham side were denied a first win in three games following a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton.

Tomas Soucek put the Londoners ahead after five minutes and the points looked safe — until Neal Maupay’s overhead kick in the 89th minute for the visitors, who were down to ten men after Adam Lallana went off injured and they had used all their subs. Wolves were held to a goalless draw by Burnley at Molineux.