Villa took the lead 2-0 before the break. Then Marc Cucurella had first sent the ball into his own goal before Morgan Rogers brilliantly shot the ball into the nearest corner from 16 metres.
In the second half, Noni Madueke reduced before Gallagher equalized with a beautiful goal. The captain received the ball outside the 16-metre area and took it with him without any particular pressure from the hosts. He then decided to finish with his left foot, and the ball floated into the far corner.
Chelsea thought they had taken all the points when Axel Disasi poked the ball home deep into stoppage time, but it was disallowed for a foul up front. The Chelsea players were outraged by the decision.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino also understood little of the cancellation.
– Pochettino is in disbelief on the sidelines, The Athletic journalist Simon Johnson reported from the drama.
Championship hunt
Villa are fighting for Champions League play next season and are seven points behind fifth-placed Tottenham. However, Tottenham have played three fewer games and can climb past the Birmingham team if they win them all.
Chelsea is in a bad season and is in ninth place. Up to Villa, they are separated by 19 points.
Cucurella was unlucky and scored an own goal when John McGinn’s shot hit the Spaniard’s foot and went into the net after just four minutes of play.
Nicolas Jackson put the ball in the goal for Chelsea after 17 minutes, but VAR canceled the goal for offside.
Overtime drama
Rogers sent the hosts up 2-0 before the break. The left wing received the ball on 16 meters and set it up before putting it into the nearest corner. Chelsea had been close to equalizing for a period before that.
After an hour of play, Noni Madueke reduced after Chelsea had won the ball high in the pitch.
Then it was time for some Gallagher magic ten minutes before the end. In extra time, Cole Palmer had the opportunity to secure Chelsea’s victory, but he missed the target.
(© NTB)
