It’s becoming a frustrating pattern for Chelsea—starting strong, taking the lead, and then falling apart in the second half.
Image credit: Sky Sports Premier League
Chelsea took the lead early through Enzo Fernández, but Villa’s halftime introduction of Marcus Rashford turned the game on its head.
The English forward provided two assists, first setting up Asensio’s equalizer and later supplying the decisive pass that led to the Spaniard’s late winner, helped by a costly goalkeeping error from Filip Jörgensen.
Chelsea’s Fast Start but Missed Chances
Chelsea began the match with intensity and wasted little time in asserting dominance.
Their breakthrough came in the 9th minute when Pedro Neto, in fine form on the right wing, effortlessly skipped past Ian Maatsen before drilling a low ball across the box.
Fernández reacted quickest, sliding in to steer the ball beyond Emiliano Martínez and hand the visitors an early lead.
Despite the bright start, Chelsea failed to build on their advantage. Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, and Youri Tielemans started finding spaces in Chelsea’s defensive third, testing the Blues’ backline.
Watkins was particularly wasteful, squandering four clear-cut chances before halftime, much to the frustration of the home fans.
Rashford’s Introduction Changes the Game
Unai Emery, recognizing Villa’s lack of cutting edge, made a game-changing substitution at halftime, bringing on Marcus Rashford. The move immediately paid off, as Rashford’s pace and movement unsettled Chelsea’s defense.
Villa found their equalizer in the 67th minute in controversial fashion. Matty Cash whipped a low cross into the six-yard box, where Rashford tapped it across goal for Asensio to convert.
Initially, the goal was ruled out for offside, but after a lengthy VAR review, Rashford was deemed onside, allowing Villa to celebrate the equalizer.
Chelsea had a golden opportunity to restore their lead when Cole Palmer found himself through on goal at 1-1.
With Martínez slipping twice, it seemed inevitable that Palmer would score, but he hesitated, allowing Ezri Konsa to recover and clear the danger, leaving Chelsea to rue another missed chance.
Sancho and Rashford, together after Aston Villa vs Chelsea. 🫂✨ pic.twitter.com/Ey44tNLUXk
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 22, 2025
Asensio Strikes Late to Punish Chelsea
With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Aston Villa continued to press for a winner. T
heir persistence was rewarded in the 90th minute when Rashford once again found space down the left. His low pass found Asensio at the edge of the box, and the Spaniard struck a first-time effort towards goal.
Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Filip Jörgensen, should have made a routine save, but he inexplicably let the ball slip under him, handing Villa all three points in dramatic fashion.
The late collapse leaves Chelsea in a precarious position in the race for European spots, while Villa’s victory moves them up to seventh in the table, just one point behind the Blues and two points off fourth-placed Manchester City.
Post-Match Reactions
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery praised his side’s resilience:
We showed great spirit in the second half. The introduction of Rashford changed the game, and Asensio’s finishing was excellent. These three points are crucial for our season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was left frustrated by his team’s inability to control the game:
We started well but didn’t kill the game when we had the chance. The mistakes at the end cost us, and at this level, you get punished.
What’s Next?
Aston Villa will look to build on this momentum as they continue their European push, while Chelsea must regroup quickly with a tough fixture ahead, needing to bounce back to stay in contention for the top four.