Match Report: Chelsea Play Out Draw With Bournemouth
Chelsea FC were held to a goalless draw by Bournemouth in their Sunday afternoon English Premier League match.
The Blues did get a goal through Levi Colwill but the second assistant referee ruled the defender offside.
It was a fairly one-sided game at the Vitality stadium as Chelsea constantly proved and had over 60 percentage of the possession.
The Blues stepped on to the pitch without big money signing, Moises Caicedo, who was unavailable due to a knock to the knee.
Chelsea winger, Mudryk, was lively early on as he fed Gallagher in the 3rd minute, the Englishman missing from close range.
A Mudryk interchange with Nicolas Jackson saw the striker’s shot agonizingly hit the post in the 13th minute.
Bournemouth them should have scored when Ryan Christie, in the 19th minute, whipped in a low cross across the Chelsea defence to an unmarked Dango Ouattara who, somehow, saw his shot saved by Chelsea Goalie, Sanchez, from close range.
Mudryk was against involved in Chelsea play when, in the 33rd minute, he threaded a ball into the path of Gallagher whose effort towards the bottom corner was saved by Neto.
Bournemouth went on a rare attack in the closing stages of the first half, but Chelsea Keeper, Sanchez, saved well.
The first half ended, 0-0. Chelsea looking the unhappier of the two.
Whatever Pochettino told his Chelsea charges during halftime seemed to work, with Sterling coming agonizingly close in the 50th minute, his freekick sticking the crossbar before Colwill turned in the rebound for a goal, but the linesman ruled for offside
Defender, Colwill, looked intent on scoring and again came close in the 65th minute, turning in the rebound of Jackson’s shot.
Neto blocked the shot and the ensuing ricochet had to be checked by the Video Assistant Referee but no offence was found.
Bournemouth then had a dangerous push into the Chelsea area, with a through ball evading the Chelsea defence in the 67th minute, Sanchez coming to the rescue to clear from outside his box
Bournemouth came again in the 80th minute, this time, former Chelsea forward, Dominic Solanke, swing his shot saved by Sanchez’s outstretched leg.
Jackson should have put Chelsea ahead in the 83rd minute but connected tamely to Chilwell’s cross in.
It was substitute, Cole Palmer’s turn to hit on goal after an interchange with Sterling in the 85th minute saw the reverse pass hit by the Englishman, Neto able to the task.
The rest of the game wore on with no real goal threat, the game eventually ended goalless.
Pochettino’s side now sit in 14th position on the EPL standings, goals l, a rarity for his side.
