It was a pulsating encounter in the Premier League on Saturday evening as Chelsea managed to recover from two goals down to secure a hard-earned draw away at Aston Villa. The hosts established a two-goal lead by the 42nd minute, but Chelsea did not give up and managed to stage a dramatic comeback late on with two goals capping a determined performance. Conor Gallagher scored a stunning equaliser as Chelsea hit back from 2-0 down at half-time to earn a deserved 2-2 draw at Aston Villa with a rousing second-half comeback.
The midfielder slammed a delightful shot high into the home net on 81 minutes beyond substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen as Mauricio Pochettino’s side bounced back from their 5-0 mauling by Arsenal to secure a merited point from a dominant display that could easily have been a victory.
Unai Emery’s men scored at the start and end of the first half to establish an advantage they barely deserved with Marc Cucurella’s unfortunate own goal (4′) and a sharp finish by Morgan Rogers (42′) delighting the home fans. Pochettino must have wondered how his young side trailed at the break after Nicolas Jackson had a fine finish ruled out by VAR for offside before he hit the post with a header amid a sustained period of pressure.
But the visitors continued to dominate the ball in the second period with Noni Madueke slamming into the home net on 62 minutes before Gallagher’s magnificent strike.
Substitute Axel Disasi also had the ball in the net for Chelsea with a header in added time, but VAR correctly ruled it out after Benoit Badiashile pushed Diego Carlos in the back.
Villa fail to complete a double victory over Chelsea in a league season for the first time since the 1989/90 season.
But Emery sees his team maintain their grip on fourth position in the Premier League as they chase UEFA Champions League qualification. They are seven points and five goals better off than fifth-placed Tottenham, who have three games in hand on Villa before they host leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
Chelsea remain one point behind West Ham in ninth place.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino did not feel the contact between Badiashile and Carlos was enough to warrant a VAR intervention.
“Everyone that was watching the game will feel disappointed,” he told TNT Sports. “Two different things the referee said it was a foul and disallowed the goal and then going to the VAR to confirm. The referee is unbelievable and it’s ridiculous.”
But it is difficult to accept such a conclusion when you study the replays in slow motion. However soft it appears, Badiashile clearly gains an advantage by bumping the Villa player before crossing for Disasi to power a header beyond Olsen, who had replaced Emiliano Martínez at half-time due to a hamstring problem.
The visiting camp were far from happy as they surrounded the match officials at full-time with the debate likely to rumble on for the next few days.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: CONOR GALLAGHER (CHELSEA)
The midfielder demanded a response after the 5-0 defeat by Arsenal, and capped an outstanding display in the centre of the pitch with a stunning equaliser. No more than he and Chelsea deserved from a contest which saw them press Villa all over the park to secure a merited point.
PLAYER RATINGS
Aston Villa: Martinez 6, Cash 7, Konsa 6, Torres 6, Digne 6, Luiz 6, McGinn 6, Tielemans 5, Rogers 7, Bailey 6, Watkins 6 Subs: Olsen 7, Diego Carlos 6, Diaby 6, Duran 6, Iroegbunam 6
Chelsea: Petrovic 7, Chalobah 7, Thiago Silva 7, Badiashile 7, Cucurella 7, Caicedo 7, Gallagher 8, Madueke 8, Palmer 7, Mudryk 7, Jackson 7 Subs: Disasi 6, Casadei 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
4′ GOAL! (CUCURELLA OG) ASTON VILLA 1-0 CHELSEA Marc Cucurella ends up turning the ball into his own net from the McGinn ball across the face of goal. McGinn couldn’t connect properly, but the ball at pace deflects into the net. And Villa have a dream start to the night.
35′ JACKSON HITS POST FOR CHELSEA A lovely move by the visitors. Sustained pressure. Really expansive play from the visitors as Cucurella’s cross from the byline is headed against a post by Jackson with Martinez beaten. How close was that? So unfortunate for Chelsea.
42′ GOAL! (ROGERS) ASTON VILLA 2-0 CHELSEA Rogers slams the ball through the legs of Chalobah and it beats Petrovic low to his right. Cash with the pass to Rogers. And it is 2-0. All too easy. And probably against the run of play.
62′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 2-1 CHELSEA (MADUEKE) Noni Madueke slams a low shot into the net beyond Olsen as he dived to his right after Gallagher was clearly fouled by McGinn. Was a definite penalty, but not needed. Chelsea right back in the hunt. Deservedly so.
81′ GOAL! ASTON VILLA 2-2 CHELSEA (GALLAGHER) What a sweet finish that is from Gallagher’s left foot. A quite glorious finish from the edge of the Villa box as it flies high and well beyond Olsen. 2-2. What a magical goal. Chelsea fully deserve that equaliser too.
90+5′ CHELSEA HAVE A GOAL RULED OUT BY VAR Axel Disasi heads in off the bar before racing away to celebrate, but it was clear push in the back of a Villa player before the ball went in the net. VAR with the right decision. Benoit Badiashile with a clear foul before crossing into the area.