Blues and Bournemouth share the points in a chaotic 2-2 draw, leaving both managers frustrated in the Premier League’s bottom half
Chelsea and Bournemouth played out a frantic, end-to-end 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night in a match that exposed both sides’ defensive frailties, doing little to ease the mounting pressure on either manager.
The points were shared after a breathless opening half-hour that saw four goals. Bournemouth, who had won just once on the road since August, stunned the home crowd after just six minutes. David Brooks was quickest to react after Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez parried his initial header, poking home the rebound from close range.
Chelsea responded nine minutes later through a Cole Palmer penalty, awarded after a VAR check for a foul on teenager Estevao. The Blues then surged ahead midway through the half when Enzo Fernandez weaved through the Bournemouth defense and fired a superb finish into the top corner.
But the lead lasted only five minutes. More disorganized Chelsea defending allowed Justin Kluivert the simplest of finishes after a goalmouth scramble, bringing a dizzying opening period to a close at 2-2.
“The first 30 minutes were like a basketball game,” said a frustrated Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. “We show quality to get ahead but then we give away soft goals. It’s a pattern we must break.”
The second half failed to match the early chaos, with Chelsea doing most of the pressing. The lively Estevao remained their chief threat, but a combination of last-ditch defending and wayward finishing meant a winner never materialized. Fernandez spurned a golden late chance, summing up an evening of missed opportunities for the hosts.
For Bournemouth, the point ends a run of seven consecutive away games conceding three or more goals. “We showed the fight we needed,” said manager Andoni Iraola. “To come here and score twice, it is a step, but we are disappointed not to win after starting so well.”
The result leaves Chelsea with just one win in their last seven Premier League matches, having now dropped 13 points from winning positions this season. Bournemouth’s own winless league run stretches to ten games, with both clubs languishing in the bottom half of the table.
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