Stamford Bridge witnessed a frustrating night for Chelsea as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth, extending their winless Premier League run to three games. The match, filled with frantic first-half action, saw the Blues come from behind, only to be pegged back, leaving manager Enzo Maresca facing boos from the home crowd.
Bournemouth, who arrived at Stamford Bridge with nine games without a win, took an early lead in the 6th minute. A long throw-in caused chaos in the Chelsea box, with David Brooks capitalizing on a rebound after his initial header was saved by Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea responded swiftly, drawing level in the 15th minute through a Cole Palmer penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after a VAR review deemed Antoine Semenyo to have fouled Estevao. Palmer calmly slotted the ball past former Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
The Blues completed the turnaround in the 23rd minute with a stunning strike from Enzo Fernandez. After a neat one-two with Alejandro Garnacho, Fernandez evaded a challenge and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
However, Chelsea's lead was short-lived as Bournemouth restored parity just four minutes later. Another long throw-in caused problems, with Trevor Chalobah inadvertently flicking the ball on to Justin Kluivert, who scored from close range.
The second half failed to live up to the excitement of the first, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. Estevao looked the most likely to make a difference for Chelsea, forcing Petrovic into a save in the 64th minute. Fernandez missed a good opportunity to win it for Chelsea, curling his shot over the bar. Bournemouth's Enes Unal also had a late chance but volleyed over the bar.
Maresca's decision to substitute Palmer in the 63rd minute was met with jeers from the Stamford Bridge faithful. Despite the introduction of Reece James and Pedro Neto at halftime, Chelsea failed to find a winning goal, increasing the pressure on the manager.
Chelsea's inability to hold onto leads continues to plague them, having dropped 13 points from winning positions this season. This draw leaves them fifth in the Premier League table, two points outside the top four, a gap that could widen depending on Liverpool's result. Bournemouth, meanwhile, sit 15th, nine points above the relegation zone.
The result extends Bournemouth's winless run to ten games, though manager Andoni Iraola may be the happier of the two managers. Semenyo, who is reportedly close to a move to Manchester City, was at the center of much of the first-half action, contributing to both of Bournemouth's goals but also conceding the penalty.
