Chelsea 1–2 Aston Villa: Watkins brace powers historic away win | OneFootball

Aston Villa claimed all three points after coming from behind to beat Chelsea 2–1 in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, making it 11 wins from 11 for the first time since 1914 and equalling a long-standing club record.

However, the home side dominated much of the first half and went into the break with a well-deserved 1–0 lead after Reece James’ corner was turned in by João Pedro.

Ollie Watkins then found the equaliser to bring the visitors back into the game, before the striker delivered a decisive moment late in the second half, producing a magical finish to put Villa ahead. Emery’s side saw out the victory to secure a 2–1 win, moving three points closer to Arsenal.

As it happened

Chelsea came out of the blocks flying, pushing for an early goal, and almost found one in the 18th minute when Enzo Fernández’s shot flashed just wide of the right-hand post.

The Blues continued to apply pressure, with both James and Pedro coming close as the home side looked increasingly likely to open the scoring.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 37th minute when James’ inswinging corner found its way into the net, beating Emiliano Martínez. It initially appeared to be a goal for the full-back, but replays showed the ball came off Pedro, giving Chelsea a well-deserved lead.

The visitors struggled to move the ball forward, pinned deep in their own half for much of the first period and failing to register a single chance before the break. Chelsea went into half-time 1–0 ahead in a fiery contest.

Unai Emery’s side showed improvement after the interval, but the first chance of the second half again fell to James, whose cross nearly caught out Martínez before the goalkeeper produced a fine save to keep his side in the contest.

The visitors then created their first real opportunity of the match in the 61st minute and should have drawn level when Boubacar Kamara was slipped through by substitute Watkins. However, Robert Sánchez produced an excellent save to preserve Chelsea’s lead as the away side began to grow into the game.

Just two minutes later, the equaliser arrived. Morgan Rogers picked out Watkins, who shrugged off two defenders before firing into the bottom corner beyond Sánchez to give the visitors a deserved leveller.

The Midlands side continued to push for a winner, with Watkins and Ian Maatsen both going close as Villa asserted their dominance.

Watkins then delivered a decisive moment, rising above the Chelsea defence to meet Youri Tielemans’ corner and power a header into the bottom corner, handing the visitors the lead.

That proved enough to see the game out and secure all three points, as the away side made history with an impressive victory at Stamford Bridge ahead of a huge clash with Arsenal at the Emirates next week.

The lineups

CHE: Sanchez; James, Badiashile, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro

AVL: Martínez; Maatsen, Lindelof, Konsa, Cash; Tielemans, Kamara; Rogers, Buendia, McGinn; Malen