New signings Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford combined twice as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Chelsea, grabbing a valuable three points in their push for European qualification.
An excellent piece of play out wide from Pedro Neto fashioned a ninth-minute opener for Chelsea from Enzo Fernandez to turn it past Emiliano Martinez.
But Chelsea did not seize control and half-time introduction Rashford – who was initially ruled offside before the video assistant referee system overturned the decision – helped Aston Villa to level when he tapped a Matty Cash delivery across the six-yard box for Asensio to bundle home.
After once again being fed by fellow mid-season recruit Rashford, Asensio then netted a 90th-minute winner thanks to a huge mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who allowed a first-time strike to slide underneath him.
Chelsea’s mishaps in defence and failure to close down gaps gave Villa ample chances to find a way back into the game despite the visitors going ahead early.
The momentum was firmly in the hosts’ favour for much of the first half, producing regular good passing routines to get in behind the visitors’ back line, but they struggled for a clinical edge.
Asensio’s late winner means Villa rise to seventh in the table, a point behind Chelsea and two points off fourth-placed Manchester City.
Credit: bbc.com
