Chelsea’s frustration continued on Tuesday evening as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
Despite dominating the match with 26 shots to Bournemouth’s seven, the Blues had to wait until the 95th minute for a dramatic equalizer from Reece James.
The game began with Chelsea showing their attacking intent early on. Cole Palmer gave the home side the lead in the 13th minute with a composed finish after a brilliant ball from Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea should have been at least two or three goals up by halftime, with several chances going begging, including a close-range miss from Jackson and a header that was saved by Bournemouth’s goalkeeper, Neto.
Bournemouth Takes Advantage
But despite their dominance, Chelsea’s inability to finish their chances cost them dearly.
Bournemouth seized their opportunity in the second half. The visitors were awarded a penalty when Moisés Caicedo fouled Antoine Semenyo in the box.
Justin Kluivert made no mistake from the spot, smashing home his sixth penalty of the season to bring Bournemouth level at 1-1 in the 50th minute.
Then, in the 69th minute, Bournemouth stunned the Stamford Bridge crowd.
Antoine Semenyo, who had been a constant threat throughout the match, smashed a brilliant strike past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to put the Cherries ahead 2-1.
The goal was a testament to Bournemouth’s clinical finishing, especially given Chelsea’s earlier dominance.
Chelsea’s Missed Opportunities
Chelsea’s frustrations mounted as they squandered more opportunities. Jackson hit the post, while Palmer saw a cheeky chip miss the target by inches.
Bournemouth also had their chances, with David Brooks playing a key role in the build-up and testing Sanchez with a low shot. The visitors were clearly up for the fight, but Chelsea looked the more likely to score.
Reece James’ Late Equalizer
With time ticking away, it seemed like Chelsea would leave the pitch with nothing. But in the final seconds of the match, it was James who became the hero.
A free kick just outside the box in the dying moments of stoppage time gave James the perfect opportunity to make amends.
He stepped up and curled the ball into the top corner, sending the Chelsea fans into wild celebration.
His late strike salvaged a point for the Blues, but they’ll undoubtedly feel disappointed to have dropped points in such a manner.
Chelsea’s Struggles Continue
The result means Chelsea have now gone five matches without a win in the Premier League, a worrying run for manager Enzo Maresca.
Despite playing well in many of those games, Chelsea have struggled to finish off opponents, and their inability to convert chances has cost them dearly.
They now sit in 37 points, just three ahead of Bournemouth, who are showing impressive resilience under manager Andoni Iraola.
Looking Ahead for Chelsea and Bournemouth
Looking ahead, Chelsea will need to improve their finishing if they are to maintain their push for a top-four finish this season.
They’ll be hoping to get back on track when they host Wolves on Monday, January 20. Bournemouth, on the other hand, will look to build on this spirited performance when they travel to Newcastle on Saturday, January 18.
For now, Chelsea will take some comfort in their dramatic late equalizer, but they know they need to improve if they are to challenge for a top-four spot.
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