Chelsea and Brentford played a 2-2 dramatic draw at the Gtech community stadium, the bees shake a point deep in the time of downtime after the Blues rose a return to the second half.
The first half was frustrating for the side of Enzo Maresca. Despite the dominant possession, Chelsea lacked tempo and penetration in the last third.
Brentford, compact and disciplined, was happy to soak up pressure before hitting the break. Their opening match came in the 35th minute, when the veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson drove for the years with a precise ball above.
Kevin Schade hung on it, cut inside and quietly exceeded Robert Sanchez to give the hosts an advance of 1-0 deserved.
Chelsea’s response was tamed – the corner of Fernandez cutting the post was their nearest moment – while Brentford finished half a clearer and more dangerous.
Maresca introduced more emergency after the break, Chelsea, finally making clear chances. The replacement George forced a clear backup of Caoimhin Kelleher in a few minutes after the end, before Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez both test the goalkeeper.
Brentford still wore a threat, however, Sanchez wanted to refuse Schade a second almost immediately after restarting.
The equalizer finally came in the 61st minute. Joao Pedro is the highest to nod a cross in the way of Cole Palmer, whose net half-volley in the lower corner brought the level of Chelsea.
Suddenly, the momentum has balanced in favor of visitors. Palmer almost added another short time later, denied only by a superb stop by Kelleher, while Brentford relied on the defense of the last defense to stay in the competition.
Chelsea’s pressure borne fruit in the 85th minute. The animated race of Alejandro Garnacho ended with a cross which ricked with kindness of months Caicedo, which sparked an unstoppable strike in the upper corner of the edge of the area.
It looked like a goal worthy of sealing the three points, and fans outside were waiting for a return victory.
But Brentford, as they do so often, refused to fold. By pushing the bodies forward in the stop time, they won a long launch in the Chelsea territory. Kristoffer Ajer lit him at the nearby post, and Fabio Carvalho ghostly in space to the rear post to bring him home. A brief Var check confirmed the objective, causing wild celebrations of the crowd at home.
The figures reflected the frustration of Chelsea. Despite the possession of almost 70%, they often lacked rush and needed two spectacular finishes to change the game.
Brentford, meanwhile, was direct and efficient, ending with a count of the higher goals expected in the first half and proving to the clinic when it counted the most.
