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Premier League: Brentford stun wasteful Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

Published

1 year ago

October 28, 2023

Premier League: Brentford stun wasteful Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

A frustrating afternoon at Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea’s unbeaten run halted at four games as Brentford recorded a 2-0 victory.

The Blues dominated the opening period and created several opportunities but none were taken and that proved costly in the second half.

Ethan Pinnock headed Brentford ahead shortly before the hour mark and, with Chelsea throwing men forward, the visitors grabbed a second on the counterattack through Bryan Mbeumo.

Pochettino made three changes to his side, albeit two were enforced. Axel Disasi came in at right-back for Malo Gusto, who dropped to the bench, while Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk were ruled out with minor injuries sustained in training.

That handed Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson starts and both were heavily involved during an opening 45 minutes that Chelsea dominated.

Chance after chance was created, with Cole Palmer dictating the Blues’ attacking play.

It was the 21-year-old who fashioned Chelsea’s first genuine sight of goal as he shifted the ball out wide to Madueke, who was left one-on-one with Aaron Hickey.

Madueke advanced into the penalty area and made enough space to guide a shot toward the far corner. Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken was beaten but the ball rebounded back off the crossbar.

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Chelsea grew in confidence. Gallagher was next to threaten. The Blues skipper exchanged passes with Jackson and drove a shot toward the corner. Flekken, this time, was able to save.

He did so again to deny Cucurella. Sterling then thumped a shot high and wide from a tight angle. Both opportunities were fashioned by Palmer, who thrived in a free role behind Jackson.

Brentford were restricted to rare counterattacks forward; Robert Sanchez had very little to contend with in the opening period.

Yet for Chelsea’s dominance – which included late efforts from Madueke and Palmer – the game was goalless at halftime.

Pochettino’s side needed to maintain their tempo in possession after the restart. Yet the Blues were sluggish and were made to pay just before the hour mark as Brentford broke the deadlock.

Mbeumo was the architect as he exchanged passes down the Chelsea left, flighted a deep cross to the back post, and Pinnock was on hand to plant a header beyond Sanchez.

A response was needed and Pochettino turned to his bench: Reece James and Ian Maatsen were introduced for Diasi and Madueke.

Brentford, with a lead to protect, dropped deep into a 5-4-1 shape and frustrated the Blues. Passes into the box were intercepted. Crosses were constantly cleared. Shooting opportunities were hard to come by.

Lesley Ugochukwu and Deivid Washington were brought on with ten minutes to play. Players were pushed forward, but Brentford defended resolutely.

Thiago Silva did steer a header wide from a Gallagher corner and, after a cutback from James, neither Palmer nor Washington were able to make a clean connection with the ball inside the box.

Brentford continued to sit deep but carried a genuine threat on the counter and Sanchez had to produce a good stop to deny substitute Yehor Yarmolyuk. Mbeumo then flashed a shot just beyond the post.

Six minutes were added. In the final two Chelsea were awarded a late corner. Sanchez was sent up but the ball was cleared and Brentford countered through Neal Maupay and Mbeumo.

The latter was left with a simple finish into an unguarded net. The Blues were beaten.

Premier League: Brentford stun wasteful Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

Related Topics:Brentford Chelsea premier league Stamford Bridge

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Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

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12 hours ago

December 22, 2024

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Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

Gabriel Jesus struck twice as Arsenal became the first side since Chelsea in 2005 to go a full calendar year unbeaten in Premier League London derbies, defeating Crystal Palace 5-1 to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to three points for the time being.

A hat-trick against Palace in a 3-2 EFL Cup victory on Wednesday earned Jesus a starting berth here, and it took just six minutes for him to reward Mikel Arteta’s selection.

A first Premier League goal since January arrived when Bukayo Saka’s cross bounced off Gabriel Magalhães, allowing Jesus to stride towards the ball and side-foot home. A nervy moment for David Raya went unpunished moments later, but just five minutes after going ahead, the Gunners were pegged back as the red-hot Ismaïla Sarr bent an effort around William Saliba and inside the far post.

A breathless start to the contest continued with a third goal in the opening 15 minutes, and perhaps predictably, it came from an Arsenal corner. This time, Gabriel Martinelli’s delivery was partially cleared, but only as far as Jesus, whose controlled finish flew into the corner.

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Another defensive lapse from the visitors almost saw the scores levelled once more, only for Raya to bail out Saliba with a one-on-one stop to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta. At the other end, Gabriel went close from yet another Arsenal corner before the away side extended their advantage through Kai Havertz, who reacted first after Jesus had nodded onto the far post.

Needing a response, the hosts were inches from reducing the deficit straight after the restart when Raya was equal to Sarr’s diving header. The Arsenal shot-stopper was then called into action again, getting behind Mateta’s rifled long-range shot and catching Sarr’s follow-up header.

Those saves kept the Eagles at bay, and with an hour played, the points were all but wrapped up. A well-worked move should have ended with Jesus’ second hat-trick of the week, yet Henderson saved well with his foot only to see Martinelli turn in substitute Declan Rice’s resultant low strike.

Determined to get on the scoresheet, Rice guided in Arsenal’s fifth goal late on, sealing three vital points in an evening where the only major blemish was Saka’s first-half injury.

Despite conceding in a seventh consecutive away league match – their longest travelling run without a PL clean sheet in over five years – Arsenal now find themselves within touching distance of the league summit, albeit having played more games than the sides above them.

Meanwhile, Palace had lost just one of their last eight PL fixtures (W3, D4), but defeat here means they’re yet to add to their solitary home league victory (D4, L4), leaving the Eagles 15th in the table.

Gabriel Jesus shines as Arsenal thrash Palace 5-1 in London derby

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Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

Published

12 hours ago

December 22, 2024

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Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

Substitute Alexander Sorloth scored an injury-time winner as Atletico Madrid fought back against Barcelona to replace them at the top of La Liga.

Pedri opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 30th minute, linking up with fellow Spain midfielder Gavi before slotting a low strike past Jan Oblak.

Despite their dominance, the hosts couldn’t hold on and Rodrigo De Paul hammered home the equaliser on the hour mark after leaping on a mistake from Marc Casado.

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Barcelona were left to rue more missed chances when Sorloth slammed in Nahuel Molina’s cross in the sixth minute of injury time to give Atletico their 12th straight win in all competitions.

The victory means Atletico will end 2024 as the top team in Spain, three points above Barcelona, who have played a game more.

Hansi Flick’s Barca side could slip to third if Real Madrid beat Sevilla on Sunday.

Atletico grab late winner at Barcelona to go top of La Liga

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Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to retain heavyweight titles

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12 hours ago

December 22, 2024

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Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury to retain heavyweight titles

Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to retain his unified heavyweight world titles and prove his status as a generational great with another close points win in their rematch in Saudi Arabia.

Having inflicted a first career defeat on Briton Fury by split decision in May, Usyk’s astuteness and will to win once again prevailed at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena – and he retained his WBA (Super), WBC and WBO titles.

Fury, 36, found success in the first half of the fight. Some of the more eye-catching shots came from the Morecambe fighter, but the volume of punches and cleaner work were from Ukrainian Usyk.

All three judges scored it 116-112 to the 37-year-old champion.

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Usyk, an Olympic gold medallist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion, extended his undefeated record to 23 pro wins.

“He [Tyson Fury] is a great fighter, he is a great opponent. An unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much,” Usyk said.

Two-time world champion Fury has only ever lost to Usyk, his two defeats the major blemishes on a record also consisting of 34 wins and one draw.

Fury left the ring without conducting an interview, before IBF world champion Daniel Dubois climbed in and called for a rematch with Usyk.

A visibly frustrated figure in the moments after the scorecards were read out, Fury said backstage he was convinced he won the fight by “at least three rounds”.