Burnley snatched a dramatic late equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, punishing the hosts after a costly second-half red card for Wesley Fofana. What had looked like a controlled and comfortable afternoon for Chelsea ultimately ended in frustration as two valuable points slipped away deep into stoppage time.
The home side made the perfect start, taking the lead inside just four minutes. João Pedro reacted quickest in the box, forcing the ball over the line from close range after a dangerous low delivery from Pedro Neto cut straight through Burnley’s back line. The early goal immediately handed Chelsea control and set the rhythm for a dominant opening period.
With confidence flowing, Chelsea dictated possession and pinned Burnley inside their own half for long stretches. Cole Palmer nearly doubled the advantage after capitalising on a defensive lapse, but his effort was kept out by an alert save from Martin Dúbravka.
Despite Chelsea’s territorial dominance, they were unable to find the second goal that would have provided breathing space.
Burnley, meanwhile, struggled to create meaningful opportunities before the break. Their most promising moment came from a set-piece situation, but it failed to seriously test Robert Sánchez in the Chelsea goal. The visitors entered halftime fortunate to be trailing by only a single goal.
After the restart, Chelsea continued to press for another breakthrough. João Pedro saw an additional attempt blocked, while Palmer’s influence gradually diminished as Burnley began to grow into the contest.
Although the hosts maintained control for much of the second half, they lacked the clinical edge needed to put the match beyond reach.
The pivotal moment arrived in the 72nd minute when Fofana was shown his second yellow card for a late challenge on James Ward-Prowse. Having already been cautioned earlier in the game, the defender’s dismissal left Chelsea facing the closing stages with a numerical disadvantage.
Sensing vulnerability, Burnley stepped up their attacking efforts. Josh Laurent tested Sánchez with a firm strike, prompting a reaction from manager Scott Parker, who introduced fresh attacking options in pursuit of an equaliser. Chelsea responded by retreating and reinforcing defensively, but the momentum had clearly shifted.
Ward-Prowse’s deliveries from wide positions became increasingly dangerous, and Burnley’s pressure finally paid off in the 93rd minute. Zian Flemming found space inside the area and powered a header past Sánchez from a Ward-Prowse corner, silencing the home crowd.
Moments later, Jacob Bruun Larsen missed a similar opportunity that could have compounded Chelsea’s misery. Nevertheless, the damage was done.
The final whistle was met with boos from frustrated Chelsea supporters, as their side once again failed to protect a winning position and were forced to settle for a single point.
