Bournemouth hold Chelsea in entertaining goalless draw
Bournemouth and Chelsea engaged in an exhilarating goalless draw during Sunday’s Premier League showdown at the Vitality Stadium. Both teams squandered multiple opportunities to secure victory.
The Cherries advanced one spot in the rankings, now positioned at 15th, surpassing Wolverhampton Wanderers. Meanwhile, Chelsea remains in 14th place, having accumulated only five points from their five matches this season.
In a fleeting moment during the second minute, Enzo Fernandez had a glimpse at Bournemouth’s goal, but his shot posed no challenge to the home team’s goalkeeper, Neto.
Less than a minute later, Chelsea came agonizingly close when Mykhaylo Mudryk surged into the Cherries’ box and served Conor Gallagher, only for the midfielder to misfire from close range.
In the 11th minute, the Blues pressed again, but Raheem Sterling’s shot across the goal went unclaimed, allowing Bournemouth to escape another perilous situation on their home turf.
Nicolas Jackson then rattled the post in the 13th minute, while Bournemouth seized a significant opportunity of their own in the 18th minute, only for Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, to brilliantly thwart Dango Ouattara’s close-range attempt at the far post.
Neto pulled off an outstanding save to deny Gallagher’s strike in the 33rd minute, and Sanchez reciprocated by denying Ryan Christie at the other end towards the end of the first half.
Despite Chelsea’s impressive performance in the opening 45 minutes, their inability to capitalize on scoring chances left the teams level at halftime.
The Blues believed they had taken the lead early in the second half when Levi Colwill converted from close range after Sterling’s magnificent free-kick struck the crossbar. However, the offside flag was raised, depriving them of the goal.
Sterling was exceptionally unlucky not to score with his superb set piece, as it bounced on the goal-line but somehow evaded going in.
Just before the hour mark, Bournemouth had an opportunity of their own when Thiago Silva took a long time on the ball inside his own box, but his clearance ricocheted off Christie and went behind.
In the 65th minute, Chelsea somehow failed to force the ball into the net, with Colwill involved once again; VAR briefly examined a possible handball penalty but allowed play to continue.
Smart play from Justin Kluivert set up Dominic Solanke with a chance in the 73rd minute, but the striker failed to make solid contact with the cross.
Bournemouth had another opportunity in the 78th minute from a free-kick just outside the Chelsea box, but Philip Billing’s effort deflected just wide of the post.
Solanke was then denied by Sanchez less than a minute later, with Neto thwarting Cole Palmer’s strike at the other end. The ball stayed alive, but Ian Maatsen’s powerful shot was blocked.
In the additional eight minutes of injury time, both teams made forays forward, but neither managed to find the back of the net, resulting in a shared outcome at the Vitality Stadium.
Chelsea’s quest for their second Premier League win of the season will continue in their upcoming match against Aston Villa next Sunday. Meanwhile, Bournemouth will return to action on the same afternoon, facing Brighton & Hove Albion away.
