VAR Drama: Chelsea comeback against Aston Villa to draw 2-2

• Chelsea pulled off an incredible comeback to hold Aston Villa to a 2-2 draw despite having a last-gasp winner disallowed.

Chelsea pulled off an incredible comeback to hold Aston Villa to a 2-2 Premier League tie at Villa Park despite having a last-gasp winner disallowed.

For Mauricio Pochettino’s team, another dreadful away day was in store, as Villa appeared headed for victory after an early own goal by Marc Cucurella and a superb goal by Morgan Rogers.

Two curling attempts from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher suddenly tied the score.

Axel Disasi and Robin Olsen combined to score Chelsea’s third goal deep into extra time, but to the Blues’ infuriation, the VAR room interfered for a foul on Diego Carlos.

Chelsea slow start

Aston Villa went two goals up in the first half. Photo/ Evening Standard

The Blues suffered a similar fate at Villa Park, when another run down the left caused the damage, after conceding with just four minutes remaining in their 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal.

After letting Pau Torres stroll forward unopposed, he laid off Lucas Digne, whose cross was met by John McGinn’s first-time effort, which appeared to be going wide before sadly deflecting off Cucurella’s shin.

Although Nicolas Jackson’s header into the net in the 17th minute brought the Blues back to parity, McGinn may consider himself fortunate that the Spanish left-back converted his scuffed effort.

The Senegalese forward held off on celebrating, though, as Chelsea nervously awaited the results of a VAR analysis. As it turned out, Jackson had been caught half a yard offside by Villa’s high line.

The blue team’s possession percentage of over 70% did not result in any clear-cut opportunities, but Youri Tielemans’ injury at the 27-minute mark gave them hope for a comeback.

Chelsea quickly increased the tempo, but in the 34th minute, the ever-squandering Jackson added another mistake to his growing list when he headed a Cucurella cross eight yards out and off the base of the post.

A merciless Villa used their possession times to double their lead in the 42nd minute as Morgan Rogers found a space between Trevoh Chalobah’s knees and at Djordje Petrovic’s near post with a superb goal as Pochettino’s team struggled to convert their possession opportunities.

The former Middlesbrough winger imitated Cole Palmer‘s “cold” celebration as the Lions led 2-0 at the half. However, Emiliano Martinez, the team’s first choice goalkeeper, was absent for the second half, presumably because of a hamstring injury. Olsen replaced Martinez in the goal.

The comeback

Chelsea players celebrate Conor Gallagher’s goal. Photo/ Chelsea FC

But in the 66th minute, Madueke calmly curled a low drive into the far corner to give the Blues hope after Conor Gallagher robbed Luiz of the ball just outside the Villa penalty area. The Swede could do little to stop Pochettino’s team from eventually taking advantage of one of their opportunities.

Palmer’s first curler from the edge of the D in the 77th minute went just wide of the post, showing that if Chelsea were to lose in the West Midlands, it would be with a strong showing as opposed to their surrender in the second half at the Emirates.

81 minutes in, Gallagher, who had set up Madueke’s equalizer with excellent pushing, was allowed to fire from the edge of the box since Villa was unable to contain him. The midfield player duly obliged, curving a fantastic left-footed shot into the upper corner past Olsen’s useless reach.

Palmer had the ball in a dangerous spot after Carlos’s shoddy clearing, and he ducked into the Villa box, but his weak shot ricocheted off the keeper and behind for a corner

Villa handled the first set piece, but Disasi met Benoit Badiashile’s repossessed ball back into the box with a header that went into the net off Olsen’s glove.

Villa’s protests were reminiscent of Martinez’s own goal against Arsenal in February 2023, but there would be a break for the Champions League chasers as Badiashile’s shove on Carlos was judged to have crossed the foul threshold, guaranteeing a share of the spoils after an incredible struggle.