Christopher Nkunku proved Chelsea’s hero as his late strike secured a slender 1-0 win over AFC Bournemouth within the Premier League.
The ahead got here off the bench to strike the winner 5 minutes from time on the Vitality Stadium, the place Robert Sanchez saved out Evanilson’s first-half penalty.
Bournemouth seemed the extra prone to take all three factors within the contest, and Chelsea had Sanchez to thank for his penalty heroics, albeit after he had conceded the spot-kick for a foul on Evanilson.
Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie additionally struck the woodwork for the hosts, however the Blues landed the decisive blow within the closing levels to grab the victory.
Nkunku’s late intervention strikes Enzo Maresca’s facet as much as seventh place on seven factors, two greater than Bournemouth, who’re in eleventh.
How the match unfolded
Bournemouth carried the better attacking risk early on and went near breaking the impasse after simply 4 minutes when Tavernier’s thunderous long-range strike rattled the crossbar.
Antoine Semenyo then dragged vast from distance, whereas Sanchez saved out Justin Kluivert’s volley.
Bournemouth have been handed a golden alternative to take the lead within the thirty seventh minute from the penalty spot when Sanchez tripped Evanilson, however the Chelsea goalkeeper redeemed himself by guessing accurately to disclaim the Brazilian.
The Cherries went shut once more after the break, with Sanchez holding out Kluivert following a jinking run, earlier than Evanilson’s header was dominated out for offside.
After Nicolas Jackson shot simply over on the different finish, the woodwork got here to Chelsea’s rescue as soon as extra with Christie’s low strike ricocheting off the skin of the best publish.
However the guests ultimately grabbed the decisive breakthrough 5 minutes from time. After receiving the ball from Jadon Sancho, Nkunku neatly skipped away from a few challenges earlier than slotting residence the winner.
Maresca’s substitutions repay
Chelsea struggled to generate an honest attacking risk for a lot of the contest, with Sanchez proving the distinction with a string of sensible saves, although in addition they had the woodwork to thank for preserving their first clear sheet in 18 Premier League away video games.
Maresca launched new signing Sancho for his debut at half-time and the Manchester United loanee performed a key position within the recreation’s decisive second by choosing out the Frenchman, who did the remaining in chic vogue.
Following their emphatic 6-2 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea have now secured a fourth successive away win, attaining the feat for the primary time in two years.
They’ve responded properly to their 2-0 opening weekend defeat to reigning champions Manchester Metropolis, with Maresca’s philosophy beginning to present throughout their three-match unbeaten run.
Chelsea have been additionally a part of making a small slice of historical past on Saturday, as 14 yellow playing cards have been proven in a fiery encounter – probably the most in a single Premier League match, beating the file of 12 which have been proven in Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur in Might 2016 and Wolves v Newcastle United in August 2010.
Bournemouth style first defeat
It seemed an actual chance that Bournemouth would be capable of stay unbeaten of their opening 4 matches of a top-flight season for the primary time, solely to be stunted by their lack of medical edge within the remaining third.
Contemporary from their miraculous late turnaround towards Everton earlier than the worldwide break, the Cherries seemed to be constructing on that momentum, and they’re going to rely themselves unfortunate to not have damaged the impasse when within the ascendancy.
Certainly, they discovered Sanchez in positive type, with the Chelsea goalkeeper guessing accurately to thwart Evanilson from the spot, whereas Tavernier and Christie have been solely inches away from hitting the online when their spectacular makes an attempt rattled the woodwork.
Andoni Iraola’s facet have been made to remorse not capitalising on these alternatives, with Nkunku’s piece of particular person brilliance condemning them to a primary league defeat of the marketing campaign.
However the Cherries head coach will certainly take confidence from their efficiency as soon as once more, although they face one other powerful take a look at at Liverpool subsequent weekend.
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What the managers stated:
Andoni Iraola: “I am actually disenchanted with the consequence. I am very happy with the efficiency and we had extra possibilities than them. That they had extra of the ball in a scenario the place it wasn’t harmful. Their ‘keeper performed very properly.”
Enzo Maresca: “I believe we performed two completely different video games. Within the first half we struggled, did not win duels, we did not win second balls. The second half we have been significantly better. However general I believe we create many possibilities, the sport was there and we’re pleased.”
Subsequent Premier League fixtures
Key info
Chelsea have saved their first clear sheet away from residence within the Premier League in 18 such video games, since a 2-0 victory towards Fulham in October 2023, whereas they final had an away league recreation with lower than two targets within the match in September 2023, towards Bournemouth (0-0).
Bournemouth had 19 photographs towards Chelsea tonight, solely as soon as have that they had extra makes an attempt with out scoring in a Premier League recreation (20 v Newcastle in November 2015), in the meantime Chelsea final confronted extra photographs within the competitors with out conceding greater than 10 years in the past, towards Liverpool in April 2014 (26).
Robert Sanchez has saved 50% of the penalties he’s confronted for Chelsea within the Premier League (2/4), one of the best ratio for the Blues amongst ‘keepers to face 4+ spot kicks within the competitors.
There have been 14 yellow playing cards proven on this match (six for Bournemouth, eight for Chelsea), probably the most ever issued in a single Premier League recreation.