The game ended 0-0, and it was Brentford who missed more chances than the home team at Stamford Bridge, whose best attempts to score were Kai Havertz’s shot in the second half, which was calmly parried, and Carney Chukwuemek’s strongest shot at the very end.
The home team certainly had the advantage in the first half, but could not score. Once again, the Blues were grateful to Kepa for his current form: the Spaniard parried two Bees’ shots, and there was little danger at the opposite end of the field.
Rico Henry, licensed to continue playing in the front five, was a constant threat on the left flank. It was his cross after a neat exchange with Matthias Jensen and a swift run from his own half of the pitch that led to the first chance of the evening.
First Tony’s path to goal was blocked by Kepa and then, when Henry got his second ball, Mark Cucurella was in the perfect position to take the ball off Mbeumo’s fingertips at the six-yard line.
Brentford’s next threat came from the other side as Rorslev played a tempting ball into the center of the field, Tony received it with a powerful header, but Kepa was on top and cleverly backhanded the ball under the crossbar.
Shortly after, referee Jared Gillett was in doubt as Mbeumo fell to the ground in the penalty area after Ruben Loftus-Cheek interfered from behind, but the Australian referee immediately allowed play to continue.
Kepa made a hat trick of important interference moments later, dashing to the edge of the field to interfere with Henry’s ball, while Toni and Mbeumo waited in the center to interfere.
The move to five men at the back also gave Frank Onyek and Jensen the opportunity to press higher, something Chelsea struggled to do.
To counter this, the Blues tried to stretch, using Broy’s speed against Brentford’s back line. And it worked.
The Slough-born striker moved well through the channels, drawing support players to him. Zank had to be careful to cut off Jorginho’s attempt to break forward before he was within millimeters of centerback Cesar Aspilicueta.
At this point, the match turned into a tense and contentious derby. Trevor Chaloba positioned himself perfectly to cut out Onyeka’s shot intended for Mbeumo, after which Kepa was called back into action, distributing well to repel Tony’s shot from close range.
At the other end, Aspilicueta perfectly beat Raya and shot low from the edge of the penalty area. Broi’s speed created the opportunity, and he repeated the trick during Chelsea’s next run forward.
This time, Mee managed to slow the striker down before the latter intervened decisively, forcing him to shift and allowing the Brentford defenders to recover. The Albanian’s shot from a deflected position ended up in the net unsuccessfully.
Henry was the other Red and White player to intervene in time for Broy, who was trying to get the ball to Cucurella.
By the end of the half there was enough time for a final attack by both teams. Toney’s attempts to create a better opportunity for a shot were foiled by Kalidou Coulibaly, and Loftus-Cheek knocked the ball out from 25 yards.
Brentford started the second period with the advantage and had a great chance to take the lead five minutes before the end of the half.
Rerslev again came to the striking position and hit Mbeumo’s head from eight meters. The striker did well to the ball, but it went straight to Kepa, who gratefully took it on his chest.
A good period for the Bees ended with Toni’s shot on goal and Chalobah blocking another Mbeumo attempt before Chelsea called in the cavalry an hour later. Stirling, Christian Pulisic and Karni Chukwuemeka came on and quickly made their mark on the game.
Mee bravely blocked Pulisic’s long range shot, while Raja happily saved Havertz’s turnaround shot close to the ‘deuce’.
For all their possession, Chelsea struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-prepared Brentford backline, but the Bees did create their chances.
Mbeumo spotted Kepa behind his line and tried to strike an ambitious shot from his half of the field, but the Spanish keeper quickly returned to the rescue. Good play by Joan Viss created an opportunity for Heinrich, who shot into the side netting, and the referees did not notice Aspilicueta’s shot.
However, with the transition of the game to the final quarter, threats to the Rai goal became more frequent. Kovačić twice missed the target, and both of Pinnock’s shots were decisive and did not allow Pulisic’s low shot to reach Havertz and Chukwuemeka, who were waiting for him in the penalty area.
Eight minutes before the end, Brentford created the last opportunity for a breakthrough. Shandon Baptiste crossed into the penalty area for Toni, but for the third time on the evening Kepa came up, made himself big and blocked Toni’s low shot. The ball was passed to the edge of the penalty area to Janelt, but he was unable to create space for a shot.
Chelsea then broke through but again Zanka handled the pass before Henry blocked Pulisic.
If that attempt was successful, Pinnock’s next action was truly remarkable. Stirling broke into the penalty area and wanted to shoot from eight yards, but Pinnock stretched his leg and saved the goal.
The danger did not end there and in extra time Raja was called into action three times.
Obameyang’s low shot didn’t cause him much concern, but Pulisic’s shot had to be parried as it flew through the air.
However, he saved the best for last: Chukwuemeka went down the left flank and from the corner of the six-yard box, he fired towards goal, but Raya stretched out his left leg to block the shot and secure a share of the derby on the night.
3-5-2
Raya, Zanka, Mee, Pinnock, Roerslev, Onyeka (Baptiste), Janelt (Ghoddos), Jensen (Dasilva), Henry, Toney, Mbeumo (Wissa)
Substitutes not used: Cox, Ajer, Damsgaard, Canos, Lewis-Potter
Kepa; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Koulibaly, Loftus-Cheek, Gallagher (Kovacic), Jorginho, Cucurella (Pulisic), Havertz (Aubameyang), Mount (Chukwuemeka),Broja (Sterling)
Substitutes not used: Mendy, Thiago Silva, Zakaria, Ziyech
NIL
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Match Stats:
Possession
Brentford 34%
Chelsea 67%
Total Shots
Brentford 8
Chelsea 14
Shots on Target
Brentford 5
Chelsea 5
Corners
Brentford 6
Chelsea 2
Fouls
Brentford 7
Chelsea 7
Attacks
Brentford 88
Chelsea 130
Dangerous
Attacks
Brentford 53
Chelsea 81
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford
Player of the Match: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)
