Enzo Maresca’s team took an early lead when Cole Palmer scored his 14th Premier League goal of the season in the 13th minute. ..Continue Reading
However, Bournemouth responded in the 50th minute when Justin Kluivert converted a penalty, awarded after Moises Caicedo fouled Antoine Semenyo.
Semenyo then gave the Cherries the lead with 22 minutes remaining.
But Chelsea captain Reece James rescued his team with a 95th-minute free-kick, leaving Andoni Iraola’s side disappointed after a strong performance.
Iraola, visibly frustrated after the match, seemed to imply that James’ goal should have been “overturned.”
As James took the free-kick, Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson were positioned close to Semenyo, who was at the end of Bournemouth’s defensive wall, with some fans arguing that their presence obstructed goalkeeper Mark Travers’ view.
“When you consider how Chelsea played and we played, I don’t think we deserved to win.
“Cucurella is touching Semenyo and they scored. It should be changed. What do you have to check? I don’t think we were better than Chelsea.”
“VAR has to check the free-kick and the point of contact,” he added when speaking to BBC Sport.
Supporters were quick to give their thoughts on social media.
One said: “Absolutely no way Cucurella and Jackson (who impact Travers’ eyeline) are a metre away from the wall.”
Another added: “I’m sorry but look at that gap in the wall. Whether that’s down to Travers, there’s absolutely no way that should happen regardless of the Chelsea players.”
A third explained: “I’ll never understand keepers standing in the middle of the goal with free kicks that close.”
While a fourth commented: “What a massive baby Iraola is. They’re far enough away when the ball is struck but of course your picture isn’t of that. Ball goes so far away from them too. Blocking the keeper’s eyeline isn’t an offence. Headloss take, which is a shame as Bournemouth were better side 2nd half.”
Chelsea will take on Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Monday, January 20th, while Bournemouth will head to St James’ Park to clash with Newcastle United on Saturday, January 18th.
