Cucurella stunner rescues Chelsea after Palmer’s penalty blunder | OneFootball

Marc Cucurella scored for the second consecutive game as Chelsea beat relegation battling Leicester City 1-0 after Cole Palmer had missed a penalty in the first half.

Palmer’s blushes were spared after he missed the first penalty of his professional career, with Cucurella firing home from 25 yards to secure Chelsea a priceless win in the race for the Champions League. Victory sees Enzo Maresca’s men leapfrog Manchester City into fourth place in the Premier League.

With Chelsea legends including Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Dennis Wise, Kerry Dixon, Ron “Chopper” Harris and Frank Blunstone in attendance to celebrate the club’s 120th anniversary, it was far from a party atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, with the home faithful frustrated with the passive attacking play from their team.

Leicester started the match brightly, but their hard work appeared to have been undone in the 21st minute after Victor Kristiansen conceded a penalty for stepping on Jadon Sancho’s foot following the Englishman’s smooth turn to get away from the defender. Although the decision looked harsh on second glance, referee Tim Robinson had no choice but to award the spot-kick.

However, Cole Palmer, who had the gazing eyes of England manager Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands, was denied from the spot by Foxes goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, with the Dane pulling off a stunning save down to his left to deny the Blues star.

The drama continued five minutes later as Tosin Adarabioyo inadvertently headed James Justin’s cross onto his own crossbar after Robert Sanchez’s ridiculous attempt to claim the ball, before Levi Colwill heroically flicked the ball away from the onrushing Jamie Vardy.

After the penalty drama had subsided, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side continued to comfortably hold their own against their hosts and looked a far cry from the team that had lost 11 of their last 12 matches. The Dutchman struck a frustrated figure on the sideline in the first half, but his side laid firm in their defence as the game went into the break goalless.

But Leicester’s rigid defence was breached 60 minutes in as Chelsea deservedly took the lead. Sancho combined with Enzo Fernandez to find Marc Cucurella, and the Spaniard fired a pinpoint shot from 25 yards into the bottom right corner, with penalty hero Hermansen helpless in stopping the 26-year-old from scoring for the second consecutive match.

The visitors were never fully out of the match, but the goal was a sucker punch after a positive performance from a side inching ever closer to an instant return to the Championship, as they remain in 19th place on just 17 points. Chelsea rise to fourth place on 49 points, with Champions League qualification now in their hands.