Bournemouth vs Chelsea Review
A late goal from substitute Christopher Nkunku secured Chelsea a slim 1-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, marking their sixth consecutive unbeaten match against them. Chelsea has had a mixed start to the season and faced a Bournemouth team that was riding high after coming back from a two-goal deficit against Everton before the international break.
Bournemouth was the stronger team in the first half, nearly scoring within four minutes when Marcus Tavernier’s long-range shot hit the crossbar. Evanilson and Antoine Semenyo also missed their chances, while Robert Sánchez made saves against Justin Kluivert and Lewis Cook. Bournemouth’s best chance to score came shortly after the 30-minute mark.
A misplayed backpass from Wesley Fofana put Sánchez in a tough spot, allowing Evanilson to intercept the ball and earn a penalty after pushing it past him. The club’s record signing took the penalty himself, aiming for his first goal for the team, but Sánchez successfully saved the shot. Chelsea had a few bright moments, with Nicolas Jackson forcing a save from Mark Travers following good work from Levi Colwill, but Enzo Maresca would have been dissatisfied with his team’s performance in the first half.
After halftime, Bournemouth started strong, with Kluivert being denied by Sánchez again, Semenyo shooting just over, and Ryan Christie hitting the crossbar from outside the box. In response, Maresca brought on João Félix, having already substituted Jadon Sancho at halftime, which helped Chelsea gain more control. Andoni Iraola’s team attempted to counterattack but were largely ineffective, and their inability to apply pressure on the Chelsea goal ultimately proved detrimental.
Nkunku, who began the game on the sidelines, was set up by fellow substitute Sancho. He maneuvered past a couple of defenders and shot into the corner, thrilling the traveling fans. As a result, Chelsea secured a win in a match that saw a record 14 yellow cards in Premier League history. The Blues remain unbeaten in their last three league games, while Bournemouth has managed to win only one match across all competitions this season.
