Reece James marked his return to Premier League action with a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer as Chelsea salvaged a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. The England full-back, who has been plagued by hamstring injuries this season, curled in a superb free-kick to deny the Cherries a valuable away victory.
Chelsea dominated the first half and took a deserved lead through Cole Palmer’s composed finish in the 13th minute. However, Bournemouth were handed a lifeline after the break when Moises Caicedo conceded a penalty for a foul on Antoine Semenyo. Justin Kluivert converted the spot-kick to level the score.
Bournemouth then took the lead in the 68th minute through Semenyo’s powerful strike, which flashed past Robert Sanchez and went in off the left post. But James had the final say, firing a low free-kick through a crowded penalty area in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure a point for Chelsea.
James’s return from injury will be a welcome boost for Chelsea. The full-back has endured a frustrating season, missing 21 games due to hamstring problems. He came on as a substitute against Bournemouth and made an immediate impact, showcasing his quality with the late equalizer.
Palmer continued his impressive form with another goal for Chelsea. The young attacker has been a key figure for the Blues this season, and his clever finish gave them an early lead. Despite dominating the first half, Chelsea failed to convert their chances into a more comfortable lead. Nicolas Jackson was particularly wasteful, hitting the post and having a header saved before blazing the rebound over the bar.
Bournemouth extended their club-record unbeaten run in the Premier League to nine matches with the draw at Stamford Bridge. Andoni Iraola’s side are enjoying a superb season and remain in contention for a European place.
Bournemouth were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when David Brooks caught Marc Cucurella with his arm in an off-the-ball incident. Although the VAR intervened, referee Rob Jones opted to book Brooks only after reviewing the incident on the monitor.
Bournemouth face a tough test against Newcastle in their next match, while Chelsea host Wolves on Monday.
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