Brentford 2, Chelsea 2: Carvalho Strikes Late to Secure Draw as Blues Benefit from Palmer’s Goal Return
Two crucial points slipped away just when it seemed they might secure all three.
It’s no surprise that Enzo Maresca was left utterly stunned.
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Had it not been for Cole Palmer, Maresca’s squad might have faced a loss instead of the disappointment of letting their lead slip in the closing moments.
Fabio Carvalho’s late goal, scored after Chelsea mishandled a long throw-in, eclipsed Palmer’s earlier contributions.
Coming on with Chelsea trailing from Kevin Schade’s first-half goal, Palmer highlighted his value to the team’s objectives.
His equalizer—remarkably his first Premier League goal from open play in eight months—was a flawless side-footed half-volley from eight yards out.
This set the stage for what followed: a stunning strike from Moises Caicedo that appeared destined to secure the victory.
However, fortune had different ideas, as Carvalho found himself in front of an unguarded net after Kristoffer Ajer flicked on Schade’s throw, reversing the narrative.
Assessing Chelsea’s overall performance, they had little justification for the final outcome.
Without Palmer, the team appeared uninspired and lackluster, caught off guard by Schade’s early strike and short on creativity.
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The match was unremarkable, reflecting Chelsea’s lack of depth compared to Arsenal’s established talent.
Yet, amid this, they boast a gem: a skilled English player.
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Even though Palmer might not be at peak fitness—part of the reason he, along with Reece James and Marc Cucurella, started on the bench while a bug sidelined Brazilian talent Estevao—his impact can’t be denied.
And Chelsea desperately needed that spark.
Possession for the sake of possession—often a critique aimed at Maresca last season—yields no significant results.
From the 15th minute when Trevoh Chalobah’s header went wide until the last moments of the first half when Enzo Fernandes’ left-footed attempt was deflected away, Chelsea struggled to challenge Caoimhin Kelleher.
Brentford had already demonstrated their intent to capitalize on Chelsea’s frailties.
Just six minutes into the game, a long ball found Schade at the edge of Chelsea’s box, but Tosin Adarabioyo executed a vital block.
It was from nearly the same position that the home side first found the net.
Chalobah ventured too far into Brentford’s territory without securing a tackle, allowing Jordan Henderson to deliver a deep diagonal pass.
Wesley Fofana, returning to the starting lineup since March, found himself out of alignment.
Schade surged into the box, and this time his shot slipped through Tosin’s legs and into the back of the net.
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Maresca made several substitutions, bringing on James, Cucurella, and Tyrique George, while Fofana, summer signing Jorrel Hato, and on-loan Facundo Buonanotte were all taken off before introducing Palmer.
The result was immediate.
Chelsea began to approach the box with fresh intent.
Palmer took full advantage, executing a perfectly timed half-volley to find his way onto the scoresheet after Joao Pedro leaped above Sepp van den Berg to meet Enzo’s cross from the right.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez barely managed to deny a swift response from Schade, but this moment belonged to Palmer.
He almost put Chelsea ahead, hitting a shot just a bit too close to Kelleher after Pedro Neto made a run into the area.
Alejandro Garnacho, making his debut for the Blues, witnessed his low cross partially cleared before Caicedo unleashed a powerful shot that struck the upper corner.
Yet, it was Brentford who had the final say, much to their fans’ delight. Without Palmer, Chelsea might not have salvaged even a single point.