Chelsea suffered their first defeat since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival when they lost at home (5-2) to relegated West Bromwich Albion, after being reduced to ten for an hour of play on Saturday on Matchday 30 of the Premier League.
The London club remained on fourteen games unbeaten in all competitions under the direction of the former PSG coach. The exclusion of Thiago Silva in the 29th minute, less than two minutes after the opening of the scoring by Christian Pulisic (27th), totally disrupted Chelsea’s defense.
This setback puts the Blues’ fourth place, and the qualification in the Champions League for the next season which is attached to it, in peril, since they are only one point ahead of West Ham, 5th and who moves to Wolverhampton Monday.
Tottenham, 6th with 3 units less, but a more favorable goal difference, could also temporarily seize 4th place in the event of victory over the poorly classified Newcastle (17th).
This victory, on the other hand, gives new hope to Sam Alardyce’s Baggies, even if their 19th place with 21 points leaves them 7 lengths behind the Magpies, the first non-relegation.
Everything had started well for the Londoners against an opponent who had already led 3-0 at the break in the first leg, before a comeback from the Blues who had snatched the draw (3-3) in the 93rd minute.
Chelsea opened the scoring on a free kick from Marcos Alonso pushed back by the post, but well taken over by Pulisic (1-0, 27 ‘).
Already warned at the start of the match, Thiago Silva, who had not started a match since the end of January in the league due to an injury, was excluded shortly after for a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle (29th).
Despite the entry of Andreas Christensen in place of Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea appeared to lose track from this incident, as West Brom, who had only achieved one victory in their last 11 games, regained confidence .
The defense of the Blues, who had taken only 2 goals in 14 matches under the former coach of Paris SG, cracked just before half-time under the blows of Matheus Pereira who reversed the match before the break ( 1-1, 45 + 2, 2-1, 45 + 4).
Far from putting the house in order, despite the entry of Mason Mount instead of Pulisic, half-time did not change anything and Callum Robinson, with a good end (3-1, 63rd) then Mbaye Diagne (4-1, 68th) widened the gap.
Mount, well served by Timo Werner, regained some hope 20 minutes from the end (4-2, 71st), but it was Callum Robinson who had the last word with a double in added time (5-2 , 90 + 1).
By Le360 (with AFP)
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