Noni Madueke had a goal and an assist in the second-half as Chelsea came back to draw Aston Villa 2-2 at Villa Park on Saturday.
The Blues controlled much of the game but conceded a fifth-minute own goal and allowed Morgan Rogers to make it 2-0 before halftime.
WATCH ASTON VILLA vs CHELSEA FULL MATCH REPLAY
Chelsea will feel it deserved all three points but could not find a winner and take just a point. Their 48 points are one behind seventh-place West Ham, five behind Newcastle, and six back of Manchester United. Chelsea have played fewer games than all three.
Red-hot Aston Villa took a two-goal lead after an incredible 8-day run saw them beat Arsenal, outlast Lille, and topple Bournemouth to live six points clear of fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the final Champions League place.
But Unai Emery’s Villans will head back to Europe having moved to 67 points, seven more than Spurs. Tottenham have three matches-in-hand on Villa, beginning with Sunday’s North London derby versus Arsenal.
Pochettino’s Blues make nothing easy
Aston Villa are a good team but Chelsea were better aside from 2-3 moments, two of which went into the Chelsea goal. That left Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues chasing a point instead of seeking a winner much earlier in the game. Chelsea really should be a top-six teams this season even despite its long injury list, as Reece James, Wesley Fofana, and Christopher Nkunku have missed much of the season (and now Enzo Fernandez is out as well). And if Pochettino were to have scapegoated that would be unfortunate. There’s no guarantee any boss would’ve done better with this young and absence-hammered Chelsea side, who aren’t showing great signs but good omens that better is to come for Todd Boehly’s club.
Aston Villa vs Chelsea player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Aston Villa vs Chelsea player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Aston Villa vs Chelsea player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
The Blues have a pair of home London derbies, first Thursday afternoon versus Spurs and then Sunday, May 5 versus West Ham.
Villa host Olympiacos in the first leg of the Conference League semifinals on Thursday, then go to Brighton at 9am ET Sunday, May 5.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Aston Villa vs Chelsea live updates — By Nick Mendola
Aston Villa vs Chelsea final score: 2-2
Goalscorers: Cucurella (o.g. 5'), Rogers (42'), Madueke (63'), Gallagher (81')
Palmer denied by Olsen! Goal, but foul?
This was so close. A huge error allows Chelsea a chance to win it in stoppage time.
And it goes to Cole Palmer of all people, who fires forward and is denied by the mistake-making Olsen.
The corner comes ends up in the goal but will it count?
There was a shove in the box before a cross that led to Axel Disasi’s headed finish.
There’s an on-field review and the goal will not stand.
Conor Gallagher goal! Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea (81st minute)
Villa are definitely not near their best, and Chelsea just needed to find their moment.
It comes from Conor Gallagher, a swirling finish into the upper 90 after a lay-off from Madueke.
Deservedly 2-2. And you could say the Blues deserve to be ahead. They’ll have at least 10 minutes.
Madueke goal! Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea (63rd minute)
Advantage is played after Conor Gallagher is fouled inside the box, allowing Noni Madueke to strike with power toward goal.
He beats Robin Olsen, who replaced Emiliano Martinez at the break, and Villa’s lead is trimmed to 2-1.
Halftime — Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
Them’s the breaks, Pochettino.
Chelsea have held the ball for 73% of this game and xG is basically even (0.57-0.50 Villa).
This is Chelsea’s season. An own goal, a goal taken away by a razor-thin offside, and a dink off the post. All that equals 2-0 to Villa.
A lot to do, and limited reinforcements on the bench.
Morgan Rogers goal (and Palmer celebration) — Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea (42nd minute)
Rogers gets the ball atop the box, situated to the left of the left post.
He cuts just inside and curls it through Trevoh Chalobah’s legs — did it take a slight turn — and beats Petrovic, doing the “Cold” Palmer celebration against Chelsea’s star youngster.
It had been almost all Chelsea between goals. Cruel game sometimes.
Jackson post!
Nicolas Jackson/Darwin Nunez Spider-man pointing meme. That’s been their seasons.
The Chelsea man leaps to turn a Marc Cucurella cross on goal and it dinks off the bottom of the right goal post.
So close.
Jackson beats Emiliano Martinez, can’t beat VAR
VAR is having a long look at what could be Nicolas Jackson’s 11th goal of the season.
His haul will stay at 10.
Jackson is just offside on his run to beat the Villa back line, a clever finish making its way off his highlight reel.
Villa right at it! Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea (5th minute)
Too easy
Villa cut through the Chelsea back line and there’s a ball sent into the box that Blues back Marc Cucurella turns past Chelsea keeper Djordje Petrovic before Ollie Watkins can do it for Villa.
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Rogers, Tielemans, Watkins
Chelsea lineup
Petrovic, Chalobah, Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Gallagher, Palmer, Madueke, Jackson, Mudryk.
Aston Villa focus, team news
OUT: Nicolo Zaniolo (undisclosed), Boubacar Kamara (torn ACL - out for season), Emiliano Buendia (torn ACL - out for season), Tyrone Mings (torn ACL - out for season), Jacob Ramsey (foot), Alex Moreno (calf)
Chelsea focus, team news
OUT: Enzo Fernandez (groin), Christopher Nkunku (thigh), Reece James (thigh), Malo Gusto (knee), Romeo Lavia (hamstring - out for season), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL - out for season), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Robert Sanchez (illness), Malo Gusto (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Levi Colwill (foot), Ben Chilwell (knee)
