CHELSEA were denied a late win over Aston Villa thanks to VAR as a fiery contest finished 2-2 at Villa Park.
The Blues went 2-0 down in the first half thanks to a Marc Cucurella own goal and Morgan Rogers’ smart finish.
But Chelsea were excellent in the second period as they were brought back level by Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher.
Axel Diasi scored a 95th-minute winner but VAR adjudged Benoit Badiashile’s nudge on Diego Carlos in the build-up to be a foul and it was ruled out.
- Kick-off time: 8pm BST
- Stream/TV: NOW TV/Sky Sports PL
- Villa XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Rogers, Tielemans, Watkins
- Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
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What are the odds?
Match result
- Aston Villa – 23/20
- Draw – 11/4
- Chelsea – 2/1
*Odds courtesy of Paddy Power and are correct at the time of publication.
Match report:
CHELSEA proved they do have a backbone as they clawed their way back from two goals down to keep their European hopes alive.
They could even have won it at a push – and thought they had – until VAR spotted Benoit Badiashile’s shove on Diego Carlos just before he crossed for sub Axel Disasi to head home.
VAR Chris Kavanagh spotted the infringement and invited ref Craig Pawson to look at the pitchside monitor.
And amid dramatic scenes it was Villa fans’ turn to cheer as Chelsea’s late strike was controversially chalked off.
More of tonight’s match report can be found here from Graeme Bryce.
Mauricio Pochettino reacts:
Mauricio Pochettino has reacted on TNT Sports post-match to the game and in particular to VAR and the end of this game.
“Everyone that was watching the game feels disappointed. I think we need to explain to the people, the referee saying foul and then confirming on VAR is one thing, but changing his decision after seeing it on the screen is another, it is ridiculous.”
“I think it [VAR] has damaged English football.”“If every challenge like this [the foul on Diego Carlos] is a foul then we will end every game with no players left.”
“I think the performance was very good and we performed very well. In the first half we conceded two goals and we were very soft… but I am very pleased with the performance of the team and the players were very good.”
“VAR has damaged English football”
Mauricio Pochettino
Man of the match
The prestigious SunSport man of the match tonight could go to a few players in blue shirts.
Conor Gallagher drove his team on brilliantly, and scored a beautiful equalizer to level things up.
Noni Madueke proved a threat all day long on the right hand side, and gave Lucas Digne a torrid time, and finished with composure to start the comeback.
But man of the match tonight goes to Moises Caicedo.
The Ecuadorian has come under a lot of scrutiny following his big money move, but was sublime in midfield tonight alongside captain Conor Gallagher.
He broke up play incredibly well, drove his team forwards at times, and set the standard for the rest of the team.
Great show.
Moises Caicedo’s heat map vs Aston Villa
Conor Gallagher speaks:
“I’m proud of the lads.
“We had chances to win and showed great character in the second half, the goal at the end should have counted but it’s not my decision. We can hold our heads high and take a lot of confidence from that.
“We are nowhere near where we want to be as a club, and there is a lot of work to be done but the second half was great tonight”
“It was a swinger!”
Conor Gallagher on his goal
Conor Gallagher said “It was a swinger!” relating to his stunning equalizerCredit: Getty FULL-TIME! Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
FT. The referee calls the end of the game, but what a game that was!
The Chelsea players are absolutely incensed at the end of the game, and Madueke is booked after the whistle goes.
VAR INTERVENES! Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
90+7. THE GOAL IS RULED OUT!
VAR recommends that Craig Pawson goes to the monitor, and the goal is ruled out for a nudge on Diego Carlos from Benoit Badiashile in the build up.
Villa are coming forward now with Rogers, and they have a corner!
THEY’VE DONE IT! Aston Villa 2-3 Chelsea
90+6. CHELSEA HAVE TURNED IT AROUND!
The corner is whipped in by Cole Palmer, to Benoit Badiashile at the back post.
He lifts the ball back into Axel Disasi, who heads it off the bar and in!
HUGE CHANCE! Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
90+4. HUGE CHANCE FOR COLE PALMER!
Right at the death he brilliantly beats two defenders and is 1v1 against Robin Olsen.
It’s on his left foot and Olsen makes a great save to deny him!
Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
90. There will be seven minutes of added time at the end of this one.
Will either team grab a winner?
Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
89. Double change for Chelsea.
Axel Disasi comes on for Thiago Silva, who seems to be hurt.
And Cesare Casadei comes on for Mykhailo Mudryk.
CHANCE! Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
88. HUGE chance for Ollie Watkins in the middle for Aston Villa, and if there is one man you want that chance to fall to this season it’s him.
McGinn works the ball nicely down the right side into Cash, who sets it back for Watkins, but he fires it over the bar.
Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
86. It would be brilliant to just see both teams go for this now, with four minutes of normal time left to play.
Thiago Silva brings down John McGinn, who is leading the Villa charge on the halfway line and receives a yellow card for his efforts.
Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
84. What a response, what a turnaround from Chelsea in the second half.
They feel in the ascendancy and Jackson strikes a shot off of a Villa defender and out for a corner to the Blues.
GOALLLLLL! Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea
81. OH MY WORD! WHAT A GOAL CONOR GALLAGHER!
That is simply sensational from the Chelsea academy product!
Noni Madueke plays Conor Gallagher inside, and he shifts it onto his left foot and CURLS it into the top left corner!Sublime!
Conor Gallagher scored a screamer to draw Chelsea levelCredit: Getty Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
78. Close from Cole Palmer, following great out of possession play from the Blues.
Badiashile won it high up the pitch and found Marc Cucurella inside, who gave it to Palmer on the edge of the box.
His curling effort was wide of the post and goes out for a goal kick.
SUBS: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
75. Double change for Villa.
Tim Iroegbunam comes on for Douglas Luiz, and Diego Carlos comes on for Leon Bailey.
A defensive shift from Villa who are gonna look to see this one out it seems.
Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
73. Trouble for Chelsea, as Bailey drives at the defence and fires a shot on goal which Petrovic saves.
It bounces just behind Ollie Watkins and Silva and Petrovic scramble it clear between them for a Villa corner.
Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
70. Caicedo looks like he is struggling in the middle of the park after being stood on by Douglas Luiz, before he DIVES into a challenge on the front foot.
If he wasn’t injured, he had me fooled.
Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
68. Lucas Digne goes down injured having been caused plenty of problems by Noni Madueke in this second half.
It looks like he will be okay to continue but one to keep an eye on.
Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
65. This has been a brilliant fight back from Chelsea since half-time.
Madueke wins a free-kick on the edge of the box straight after kick-off, but Palmer fires it wide.
GOALLLLLL! Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea
62. NONI MADUEKE GETS ONE BACK FOR CHELSEA!
Great pressure from Chelsea and Conor Gallagher sees Chelsea win the ball back high up the pitch – he turns the ball onto Madueke who calmly slots it into the bottom corner!
Great finish! Game on!
Noni Madueke celebrates getting Chelsea back in the gameCredit: Reuters
Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
60. Chelsea have two successive corners, the first of which is headed on target by Thiago Silva and blocked.
The second is put into Robin Olsen’s hands, who is fouled by Trevoh Chalobah.
Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
57. Villa can’t seem to hold onto the ball here, but Chelsea cannot seem to get the final ball to stick.
Chelsea are resorting to efforts from range and they just aren’t troubling the Villa defence.
Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
55. Moises Caicedo hits a powerful effort from distance, but it doesn’t trouble Robin Olsen.
Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
52. Good effort from Noni Madueke, who takes a great touch on the right side and cuts inside before lashing a shot just wide of the post.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
