Welcoming Sunderland at home, Chelsea had many changes in the squad, notably the appearance of Garnacho and young striker Marc Guiu. However, coach Enzo Maresca's team still entered the match with confidence and high determination.
Garnacho quickly proved his worth in the beginning. In the 5th minute, the young Argentine star had a classy individual treatment before firing a decisive cross-angle shot, opening the score early for Chelsea.
However, the way the attack plays, the Blues' defense makes fans worried. In the 22nd minute, Wilson Isidor suddenly scored, bringing Sunderland an equalizer after a simple counter-attack.
In the second half, Maresca brought on a series of young players such as Estevao, Tyrique George and Jamie Gittens in the hope of bringing a new vitality to the attack.
Chelsea maintained a proactive position and continuously pressured the opponent, but encountered a solid defensive wall of Sunderland and the brilliant form of goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
The most obvious chance came in the 85th minute when Ty George salted high to head the ball close to the goal, but Roefs reacted miraculously to save the away team.
It seemed that the match would end in a 1-1 draw, but the sudden turning point happened in the 90+3 minute. Sub substitute Chemsdine Talbi stunned Stamford Bridge with a one-touch shot from the edge of the box, pointing the ball straight into the right corner of the goal.
This superb feat sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory for Sunderland away from home.
The goals conceded in the final minutes accurately reflected Chelsea's problems this season. That is lack of concentration and ineffective finishing. Despite their superior possession and a series of good chances, Maresca's players still showed a lack of courage at decisive moments.
