Chelsea 4 Reading 2

IT was the night Stamford Bridge turned into the Garden of Eden as Chelsea returned to the top. In fact if Eden Hazard carries on like this then comparisons with Blues legend Gianfranco Zola may not be enough. Roman Abramovich paid Lille a whopping �32million for Hazard but yesterday, as Chelsea went top for the first time in 519 days, it looked like his best-ever buy. On the day Prince Harry was pictured naked in a Las Vegas hotel room, Hazard laid bare the Royals� defensive frailties and led his side to a resounding victory.He won the 18th-minute penalty that Frank Lampard converted and even set up Branislav Ivanovic�s 90th-minute strike to round things off nicely. But Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo has ref Lee Mason and his assistant to thank for allowing Fernando Torres� key third goal to stand when the Spain striker was clearly a yard offside. It broke Reading�s hearts and we can do without many more Premier League matches finishing with the hot favourite getting such a blatant decision at the expense of a massive underdog. Di Matteo has clearly yet to find the right blend despite having some of the best talent in the world at his disposal.The Italian admitted as much afterwards but also purred about Belgian playmaker Hazard, 21, who was at the centre of attention and at the heart of the action. Early on he won the ball in midfield and burst into the box to collect Juan Mata�s pass � but fired wide with his left foot. Then, on seven minutes, Ramires forced a fine save from Royals stopper Adam Federici when, really, he should have squared to Torres who was ready for the tap-in. And what a shame because the move was sublime with five one-touch passes proving Abramovich�s dream of a champagne Chelsea side is not far off. �Champions of Europe, we know what we are,� sang the Bridge faithful. And, after 18 minutes, they got the goal they had been waiting for when Hazard worked his way into the box and sold a dummy to Chris Gunter, who brought him down for a stonewall penalty. Up stepped Lampard to plant it past Federici. But, all of a sudden, Reading were level after 25 minutes. Gareth McCleary crossed for Pavel Pogrebnyak, who nipped ahead of John Terry and powered a precise header past Petr Cech. Four minutes later, it got even worse for the hosts. Skipper Terry was lucky to escape a booking for a blatant trip on Jobi McAnuff, who had flown past Ivanovic on the edge of the box. Danny Guthrie took the resulting free-kick which bounced harmlessly in front of Cech before the Czech stopper diverted it into his own net. Reading�s very own Russian oligarch Anton Zingarevich and his model wife Katsia were watching from the stands and looked on in disbelief. And if John Obi Mikel had not tracked back to thwart McAnuff as Ivanovic went missing, it could have been 3-2 to the visitors as punch-drunk Chelsea were trying to regain their composure. Pogrebnyak won virtually every battle with Terry in the first half and England boss Roy Hodgson, watching from the stands, will have no doubt raised an eyebrow. Just before the interval Terry bundled Reading�s Russian giant into the ground, Ian Harte swung in the free-kick and Alex Pearce just failed to nod home. Chelsea struggled but Hazard never faltered. Before half-time he crossed brilliantly for Torres, who headed wide. Di Matteo gave Oscar his home debut after 56 minutes, taking off the �25million summer signing�s fellow Brazilian Ramires. Shortly after, Oscar forced a diving save from Federici. As desperately as they were trying, Chelsea just could not find a breakthrough.Cue another change, with Daniel Sturridge replacing Mikel. Within seconds Hazard fed defender Gary Cahill who tried his luck from distance. His effort swerved but this time it was Federici�s turn to push the ball into his own net. It was yet another howler for the Reading keeper, four days after he let Michael Kightly�s shot squirm home against Stoke. Royals boss Brian McDermott gave the keeper his full backing but it was a turning point as, nine minutes from the end, Torres started and ended a move that also involved Mata and Ashley Cole before the No 9 tapped home. Yes, he was offside by a yard. Yes, the ref and his assistant Andy Halliday missed it � but Chelsea were not complaining. Royals boss Brian McDermott said: �I�m gutted the linesman got that decision wrong. It was clearly offside which is really disappointing for us. �It was unfortunate but that�s life. It�s just a shame he made a mistake on such a crucial goal.� Chelsea still had to survive a late onslaught by brave Reading but they hung on for dear life. Then, at the death, Torres won the ball and released Hazard with Federici up for a Reading corner. Hazard bombed forward and with only Gunter to beat, he set up Ivanovic to tap home. It was Hazard�s fifth assist in two games, including the two penalties he has won. Pure class. DREAM TEAM RATINGS: STAR MAN � EDEN HAZARD (Chelsea) CHELSEA: Cech 4, Ivanovic 5, Cahill 5, Terry 4, Cole 6, Mikel 7 (Sturridge 6), Lampard 7, Ramires 6 (Oscar 6), Eden Hazard 8, Mata 7 (Meireles 5), Torres 6. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Bertrand. READING: Federici 6, Gunter 6, Pearce 6, Gorkss 6, Harte 6, Karacan 5 (Le Fondre 5), McAnuff 6, Leigertwood 7, Guthrie 7, McCleary 6 (Robson-Kanu 5), Pogrebnyak 7 (Hunt 5). Subs Not Used: McCarthy, Mariappa, Tabb, Cummings.