Burnley managed to secure a late draw at Stamford Bridge, dealing a setback to Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea with a 2-2 result.
Dara O’Shea of Burnley celebrated scoring his team’s second goal with his teammates during the Premier League match against Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge on March 30, 2024 in London, England.
In a thrilling encounter at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer’s impressive brace was not enough to secure victory for Chelsea as they were held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient ten-man Burnley side. Despite going down to ten men early on with Lorenz Assignon’s red card, Burnley fought back with second-half goals from Josh Cullen and Dara O’Shea to salvage a crucial point in their battle against relegation.
Chelsea had their fair share of chances in the first half, with Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson coming close to finding the back of the net. VAR also denied Axel Disasi a goal. However, it was Assignon’s dismissal for a second yellow card after a foul on Mykhailo Mudryk in the box that provided Chelsea with an opportunity to take the lead. Palmer stepped up and executed a delightful Panenka penalty, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage just before half-time.
Burnley, however, showed great resilience and responded swiftly after the break. Cullen combined brilliantly with substitute Josh Brownhill, exchanging a neat one-two before unleashing a sensational 20-yard volley past Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic to level the score at 1-1.
Palmer once again proved his worth in the 78th minute, capitalizing on Raheem Sterling’s clever flick to restore Chelsea’s lead with a composed finish past Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric. But Burnley refused to be defeated and fought back once more, as O’Shea rose highest to head in the equalizer just four minutes later.
Both teams had opportunities to snatch a late winner. Sterling missed a close-range header, and Jay Rodriguez saw his effort crash against the crossbar. Ultimately, the points were shared at Stamford Bridge, leaving both teams with mixed emotions.
For Burnley, the draw represents a valuable point in their battle against relegation, while Chelsea will be disappointed not to have secured all three points, especially considering their numerical advantage for the majority of the match. The result highlights the unpredictable nature of the Premier League and the fighting spirit of Burnley, who continue to defy the odds.