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Chelsea overcame Charlie Adam’s wondergoal to beat Stoke City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge and move seven points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
Eden Hazard had given Chelsea the lead eight minutes before half time with a coolly-taken penalty, after Phillip Wollscheid had brought down Cesc Fabregas.
Adam restored parity a minute before the break, though, with a stroke of genius that will live long in the memory.
With Courtois dawdling, he picked up possession 65 yards out, well within his own half, and arrowed a shot over the flailing goalkeeper.
Chelsea lost half-time substitute Diego Costa to a recurrence of his persistent injury problems, before Hazard showed his class again to set up Remy his second winner in two games that takes Chelsea ever closer to the title, with Manchester City now facing a must-win game away to Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Show all 24 1 /24Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings CHELSEA: Thibaut Courtois Barely made a save before being made to look a little silly by Adam’s sublime strike. Idle thereafter, too. 5
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Branislav Ivanovic Spent most of the game in the Stoke half, and was not tested defensively. 7
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Gary Cahill Not tested, at all, due to Stoke’s lack of attacking ambition. Good with the ball at his feet. 6
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings John Terry The captain has and will have harder tests of his strength than that posed by Mame Diouf. As with Cahill, let off lightly by a blunt Stoke attack. 6
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Cesar Azpilicueta Got forward well, though his best qualities are as a defender – and they were not needed today. 6
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Nemanja Matic Clumsy early on, but was not really needed for his defensive qualities. Played further forward to good effect as Chelsea sought a winner. 7
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Cesc Fabregas Fine save early on to deny Remy, though at fault for the second Chelsea goal with an errant throw out. 8
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Oscar Withdrawn at half time after a subdued display. Missed a fine chance on 20 minutes. 5
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Willian Combined well with Hazard on the Chelsea left, and was instrumental in winning the ball back for the second goal. 8
Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Eden Hazard Bright and inventive. Ran at the Stoke defence early on but shooting wayward. Forced Begovic into several fine second-half saves, and set up the second goal with a bewitching run. 9
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Loic Remy Always looked a threat, and a more mobile option than Costa. Deflected shot was well saved early on, before he was in the right place for a simple finish. 8
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings From the bench: Didier Drogba Provided a focal point for the midfield to hit, and was especially important as a defensive help and outlet in the fraught closing stages. 7
Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings STOKE CITY: Asmir Begovic Fine save early on to deny Remy, though at fault for the second Chelsea goal with an errant throw out. 5
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Geoff Cameron Had a torrid afternoon with Hazard constantly bearing down on him, and unable to contribute much in the Chelsea half. 3
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Phillip Wollscheid Gave away the penalty with a clumsy challenge on Fabregas, but nevertheless, along with the unused Marc Muniesa, he looks a canny buy by Mark Hughes. 5
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Ryan Shawcross Booked on the half hour for hauling down Remy. Solid enough thereafter, and little he could do when Hazard drew him out for Remy’s goal. 6
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Marc Wilson Stood up well to the Chelsea threat, and was not at fault for either of the goals. 7
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Steven N'Zonzi Impressive. Hard-working as ever and produced a lovely, curled effort on 27 minutes that had Courtois beaten but sailed just over the bar. 8
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Glenn Whelan Booked in the first half for a tackle on Fabregas. As bity and niggly as ever, he did a decent job of keeping the Chelsea waves at bay. 7
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Stephen Ireland Not able to influence the game in an attacking sense. Perhaps lucky not to be booked for persistent fouling, including a poor challenge on Ireland. 5
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Charlie Adam Only scored one of the best goals of all time, and at a crucial time, to pull Stoke back into the game. 8
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Jon Walters Like the rest of the Stoke forward line, his effort was exemplary. But his technical ability, or lack of it, is exposed against high-level opposition. 4
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings Mame Biram Diouf Struggled to hold the ball up, and did not have no much as a sniff of a chance. His defensive work was manful, however. 4
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Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1 - player ratings From the bench: Peter Crouch Came on too late to really influence the game. 5
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