Chelsea Player Ratings vs Bournemouth: Reece James Saves the Day in Dramatic Draw
Chelsea salvaged a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth thanks to Reece James' stunning late free-kick, with mixed performances across the squad.
Original Source
The Express
Written by
Craig 'Tosh' McKinnon
Chelsea endured another frustrating outing, drawing 2-2 at home against Bournemouth. Cole Palmer opened the scoring early, but defensive lapses allowed Bournemouth to take the lead through Justin Kluivert’s penalty and Antoine Semenyo’s powerful strike. Reece James saved the Blues with a 95th-minute free kick, but the team’s inability to capitalise on a dominant first half and their defensive vulnerabilities remain significant concerns.
- Star Performers:
- Reece James (8/10): Returned from injury to rescue a point with a superb free kick, showing his leadership in crucial moments.
- Cole Palmer (8/10): Scored Chelsea’s opener with composure and was their primary creative force in the first half.
- Mixed Contributions:
- Noni Madueke (7/10): Created key chances and offered support to Palmer but faded in the second half.
- Nicolas Jackson (7/10): Excellent hold-up play for Palmer’s goal but missed multiple chances to score himself.
- Underwhelming Performances:
- Robert Sanchez (4/10): Made a critical error before halftime and was beaten at the near post for Semenyo’s goal.
- Moises Caicedo (4/10): Struggled defensively, conceding a costly penalty, and was replaced early in the second half.
- Youth Impact:
- Josh Acheampong (6/10): Held his own defensively but could have done more to prevent Bournemouth’s second goal.
- Tactical Adjustments:
- Enzo Maresca’s second-half substitutions brought stability, with Tosin Adarabioyo making key defensive contributions late in the game.
Key Stats:
- Palmer and Jackson's Chemistry: Palmer’s goal marked his 14th of the season, assisted by Jackson's impressive hold-up play.
- Missed Chances: Chelsea’s xG in the first half far exceeded their actual output, underscoring their lack of clinical finishing.
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Photo Credit
Getty
Written by
Craig 'Tosh' McKinnon
Co-founder of The1905Club. A life long Chelsea fan and season ticket holder for over twenty years. Now residing in Poland, this doesn't stop Tosh from watching every minute of every game.
