With Chelsea dropping 2-1 and a 25-yard free-kick awarded within the fifth minute of stoppage time, we assumed Cole Palmer would take it. One final deliverance of coolness was wanted on the finish of a chaotic night, and an expectant Stamford Bridge waited on its common suspect.
However then, up stepped Reece James. The 25-year-old membership captain, now free from the most recent hamstring harm that interrupted his profession, pulled rank. Its positioning suited a right-footer, fact be instructed, and James struck the ball viciously into the nook and past Bournemouth’s Mark Travers.
England supervisor Thomas Tuchel was right here to see the blast in individual, and the German was answerable for Chelsea the final time James scored a Premier League objective – in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham in August 2022. That recreation was extra memorable for the full-time fracas when Tuchel refused to let go of Antonio Conte’s hand as all hell broke free on the touchline.
However this one can be remembered for James refusing to simply accept defeat, having watched from the substitutes’ bench for many of this match as Chelsea did not capitalise on their optimistic play.
Enzo Maresca’s aspect created a foolish variety of probabilities, took none and never for the primary time this season, Nicolas Jackson was a offender. Chelsea felt they need to have been helped alongside the best way, with Bournemouth lucky to keep away from being lowered to 10 males when David Brooks clotheslined Marc Cucurella, seemingly grabbing maintain of his hair on the identical time. Referee Robert Jones disagreed it was worthy of crimson at his pitch-side monitor, a lot to Maresca’s amazement.
‘When there is no such thing as a intention to take the ball, it’s crimson,’ Maresca stated. ‘They gave yellow, so one thing occurred. How can they decide that was not harmful? For my part, it is crimson. Hopefully we might be extra fortunate with the referee sooner or later.’
Reece James got here off the bench to attain a late equaliser for Chelsea towards Bournemouth
The Blues captain discovered the underside nook from a free kick deep into stoppage time
Antoine Semenyo had put the injury-hit Cherries forward as they got here from behind to steer
On James, Maresca added: ‘I am very completely satisfied for him. He deserved it. He has had a tough time. The goal now could be to be match and to assist us.’
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth are turning into this season’s different shock bundle – after Nottingham Forest, in fact – with this draw taking them to 9 video games unbeaten within the Premier League as they might but safe European soccer for the primary time ever.
Chelsea have been linked with nearly all of Bournemouth’s again line, not least their central defenders Dean Huijsen, 19, and Illia Zabarnyi, 22. They do like a proficient teen, the Blues, and this was actually a youthful group that arrived with Iraola.
Their bench instructed a narrative as accidents and different points noticed it suffering from youngsters, together with Daniel Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi, two kids who have been taking part in for League Two Carlisle till final week. It was on Friday when Bournemouth introduced they have been recalling the duo from their season-long loans to assist with their scarcity and so they have been substitutes right here.
They watched as Chelsea took 13 minutes to attain. Jackson was surrounded by three Bournemouth males and but rolled Zabarnyi in an effort to play in Palmer for a one-on-one with Travers. Maybe we shouldn’t be stunned by the end which adopted from Chelsea’s 22-year-old famous person, the best way he pretended to shoot in an effort to sit down Bournemouth’s goalkeeper earlier than slotting the ball into the gaping objective.
After 22 minutes, Iraola wanted to make a substitution as his proper again James Hill was injured. He turned to the one senior footballer he had on the bench in Justin Kluivert.
Chelsea went again to attacking, Noni Madueke’s willpower down the best going unrewarded when Jackson skied what ought to have been a tap-in for an elite striker.
Within the thirty seventh minute got here Bournemouth’s first likelihood, gifted to them by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez but once more bungling an try at passing from the again. Kluivert struck the publish from it. Seconds later, Jackson did the identical from 20 yards.
Cole Palmer scored the opening objective for the hosts, who have been hoping to finish their winless run
Moises Caicedo, nevertheless, fouled Antoine Semenyo to present Bournemouth the possibility to internet
Justin Kluivert took the penalty kick having come off the bench himself and scored
Andoni Iraola’s aspect continued their hunt for a European end regardless of their harm points
Chelsea ought to have scored once more after 44 minutes when Palmer’s cross discovered Jackson. His header from six yards was saved by Travers. The rebound fell to his ft, this time from two yards. He struck it into the side-netting as Maresca fell to his knees within the technical space.
It’s little surprise Chelsea proceed to be linked with strikers, corresponding to Ipswich’s Liam Delap, when their centre ahead is lacking probabilities as clear-cut as this.
Within the forty ninth minute, Bournemouth gained a penalty as Moises Caicedo barged into the again of Antoine Semenyo. He took not one of the ball, the entire man, and Kluivert made it 1-1 by taking pictures straight down the center.
Brooks feared a crimson card when Jones visited his pitch-side monitor, alerted that the Bournemouth attacker had probably stopped Cucurella violently. In a uncommon sight, Jones disagreed with VAR’s suggestion, exhibiting a yellow card as an alternative.
Sanchez was wanted to cease Brooks from giving Bournemouth the lead. However Chelsea’s goalkeeper couldn’t cease Semenyo when, given an excessive amount of house by Josh Acheampong because the 18-year-old centre again confirmed his inexperienced, he blasted the ball into the objective for 2-1.
In stoppage time, substitute Joao Felix gained a free-kick. Palmer stood over it. However it was James who curled the ball into the nook to show a defeat right into a draw.
