Aston Villa pulled off a thrilling Premier League comeback, defeating Chelsea 2-1 at Villa Park Stadium on Saturday evening in the 26th round of the English Premier League. Marco Asensio’s second-half brace (57th and 89th minutes) erased an early deficit from Enzo Fernandez’s ninth-minute strike, securing three vital points. The victory lifted Aston Villa to 42 points in seventh place, while Chelsea remained stuck at 43 points in sixth, underscoring Villa’s resilience and attacking flair.
Chelsea’s Early Edge
The match began with a setback for Chelsea as defender Chalobah exited with a back injury in the eighth minute, replaced by Tosin. Despite the disruption, Chelsea struck first in the ninth minute. Pedro Neto’s brilliant run down the right ended with a pinpoint cross to Fernandez, who fired home unmarked from the six-yard box. Chelsea nearly doubled their lead in the 18th minute when Palmer’s cross found Fernandez again, but his header sailed wide.
Villa Fights Back
Aston Villa responded in the 19th minute with Ollie Watkins unleashing a powerful shot, only for Chelsea goalkeeper Jorgensen to make a sharp save. Fernandez threatened again in the 25th minute with a curling effort that narrowly cleared the bar, while Watkins’ 29th-minute shot was denied by Jorgensen. Chelsea’s James fired a volley just wide in the 43rd minute, ensuring the Blues led 1-0 at halftime despite Villa’s growing pressure.
Asensio Turns the Tide
The second half saw Villa level the score in the 57th minute. Rashford’s long pass found Asensio, who tapped in from close range after a VAR review overturned an initial offside call. Chelsea pushed back, with Palmer’s 70th-minute curler missing narrowly and a 76th-minute chance squandered when Konsa deflected Palmer’s shot after Martinez stumbled. Villa seized their moment in the 89th minute when Asensio capitalized on Jorgensen’s error, volleying a Rashford cross into the net for the win.
