BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: A brilliant second-half strike by Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher secured a 2-2 Premier League draw with Aston Villa on Saturday (Apr 27) as the Blues staged a thrilling comeback from two goals down to threaten Villa’s Champions League hopes.
Villa are fourth on 67 points, seven ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who play title-chasing Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday as one of their three games in hand over Villa. Chelsea are ninth on 48 points.
Thrashed 5-0 by Arsenal in midweek, Chelsea got off to the worst possible start when Villa midfielder John McGinn’s shot was scuffed into his own net by Marc Cucurella in the fourth minute, and the home side dominated the opening 45 minutes.
They went in 2-0 up at the break after Morgan Rogers added their second goal just before the break, his third in three home games for Villa.
However, the game then turned as Villa were forced to replace keeper Emi Martinez with Robin Olsen due to a hamstring injury, and the Swede was powerless to stop Noni Madueke from pulling back a goal in the 63rd minute.
When Gallagher was left room to shoot from the edge of the box he needed no second invitation, curling a stunning 81st-minute equaliser past Olsen to put his side level.
