Last-minute heartache as Chelsea lose 2-1 to Wolves after taking early second half lead
By Paul Lagan
Chelsea blew the lead to leave Molineux empty-handed tonight as a last-minute goal by Wolves turned the game upside down as Chelsea lost 2-1.
The west Londoners had the chance to top Premier League, but like last weekend in the 1-0 away defeat to Everton, failed to deliver the goods when it was needed.
It looked good for the Blues when Oliver Giroud opened the scoring four minutes into the second-half, when a smart, close range finish inched over the Wolves go line before Rui Patricio scooped the ball back out.
But referee Stuart Attwell was happy the goal was legitimate and not even a VAR intervention could dampen the spirits of the Londoners.
But from that point on, Chelsea went back into their shells and two strikes sent them home – pointless.
Olivier Giroud had a fantastic chance to open the scoring after 21 minutes. Ben Chilwell’s inch-perfect corner was met by the head of the France striker, but the ball was directed just over Rui Patricio’ s crossbar.
The home side’s first effort came two minutes later when Neto’s low drive was parried away for a corner by Edouard Mendy.
Kurt Zouma saw his brilliant header smack the angle of crossbar and post on the stroke of half-time from another corner. The ball rebounded to Giroud, who couldn’t redirect the ball into the net and it fell away for a goalkick.
But on 49 minutes Chelsea got the lead their play deserved. Giroud crashed home a powerful left-footed volley.
But after that the home side seemed to get their second wind and started to create confusion in the Chelsea rearguard.
It was no surprise when Daniel Podence let fly with. a goal-bound shot. The ball took a slight deflection off Reece James, taking the ball beyond Mendy’s grasp.
With six minutes of added time entering the final few seconds, Pedro Neto found space on the left and set a curling right-footer beyond the desperate grasp of Mendy and the winning goal nestled into the back of the Chelsea goal.
The Blues, instead of going top, now face the prospect of dropping down to sixth should Manchester City bet West Brom at home later tonight.
Team: Chelsea
Mendy, James, Silva, Zouma, Chilwell, Kante, Havertz, Mount, Werner, Pulisic, Giroud
Subs: Kepa, Rudiger, Jorginho, Abraham, Kovacic, Gilmour, Azpilicueta
Wolves: Rui Patricio, Boly, Cody, Saiss, Nelson Semedo, Dendoncker, Neves, Marcel, Podence, Fabio Silva, Neto,
Subs: Hoever, Ait-Nouri, Vitinha, Ruddy, Traore, Kidman, Otasowie
Referee: Stuart Attwell
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