Reece James scores stoppage-time free-kick to rescue Chelsea a point
Share:
Reece James scored a free-kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Chelsea at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League. The home side looked beaten and could have had few complaints had Antoine Semenyo’s sensational strike midway through the second half turned out to have been the winner.
Chelsea had scored early through Cole Palmer but then true to recent form wasted enough chances to finish Bournemouth before half-time, with Nicolas Jackson striking the post at 1-0 and spurning two further golden opportunities. Bournemouth levelled through Justin Kluivert’s penalty – Moises Caicedo at fault with a needless foul – then Semenyo crashed in the goal of his life to make it 2-1.
But up stepped James, on as substitute following yet another injury nightmare, to put the pain behind him and steal a point. Chelsea led in the 13th minute when Jackson produced a conjuring trick in midfield to spirit his way free from a three-man Bournemouth trap and slip a pass through the middle for Palmer, who sent goalkeeper Mark Travers to ground with a devilish feint before stroking into the net.
Chelsea were playing with a creative spirit not seen enough during their recent barren run. Jadon Sancho drew a roar of admiration from home fans for an impudent nutmeg on Lewis Cook then Enzo Fernandez danced through Bournemouth’s defence before dragging inches wide.
