Discover how Reece James’ stunning late free kick secured a dramatic 2-2 draw for Chelsea against a determined Bournemouth side. Read more about the match highlights.
Introduction:
Reece James scored a stoppage-time masterpiece to rescue a 2-2 draw for Chelsea against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. The late heroics were not enough to end Chelsea’s winless streak in the Premier League, which now stands at five matches, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side with much to ponder as they look to regain their early-season momentum.
See also: Phil Foden’s Brace Not Enough as Brentford Snatch Dramatic 2-2 Draw
The Blues began well, but Bournemouth’s resistance and attacking prowess reversed the course with goals from Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo. Still, it was James’s last-gasp effort that preserved Chelsea from loss, as the Blues continued sliding further away from securing a third place finish at season’s end.

Reece James Saves Chelsea with Stunning Stoppage-Time Free Kick
Chelsea’s recent weeks have not been an easy ride as they were faced by a spirited Bournemouth side that almost claimed a historic win at Stamford Bridge. Reece James, back from injury, curled in a superb free kick in the 95th minute to salvage a point for the Blues. See also: Crystal Palace Hold Chelsea to a 1-1 Draw as Mateta Strikes Late
The outcome puts Chelsea in fourth with Bournemouth being placed seventh at one point outside Newcastle United albeit with a match in hand still.
Chelsea Look Good at times but Could Never Capitalize.
Chelsea started pretty much in great fashion as Cole Palmer and Jackson did combine some fine play resulting in the early opener:

Palmer’s Goal (10′): Nicolas Jackson showed great creativity, wriggling into space and threading a perfectly weighted pass to Cole Palmer, who calmly slotted past Mark Travers.
The Blues looked to press their advantage, with Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho seeing promising efforts blocked by a determined Bournemouth defense. Jackson, however, was left to rue missed opportunities, hitting the woodwork and squandering a header on the stroke of halftime. See also: Diogo Jota Salvages Liverpool’s Lead in Thrilling 1-1 Draw at Forest
Bournemouth Takes Center Stage Again
Bournemouth picked up momentum in the latter stages of the match, grabbing on to mistakes Chelsea made going forward:

Antoine Semenyo’s penalty- 50 ‘ A clumsy foul by Moises Caicedo presented Bournemouth with a golden opportunity. It was Justin Kluivert taking his penalty when Robert Sanchez faltered, securing a draw with Chelsea.
Semenyo’s Thunderbolt (68’): Semenyo changed the game completely with a marvelous strike into the roof of the net after sliding past Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong.
The Cherries, buoyed by their newfound attacking impetus, defended valiantly, with Illia Zabarnyi leading the charge in keeping Chelsea’s attackers at bay.
James’ Moment of Magic
Chelsea’s attacking threat disappeared in the final stages as Bournemouth appeared to be in a position to win the match. That is when Reece James came on:
The Equalizer (90+5′): A free kick in injury time offered Chelsea a chance to stay alive. James, for his part, stepped up and curled an exquisite strike into the top corner, and celebrations erupted among the home fans.
The goal marked a triumphant return for James, whose season has been marred by injuries.

Recurring Issues for Chelsea
Chelsea’s inability to hold onto leads remains a major concern. The Blues have now squandered advantages against Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth during their recent winless run.
Missed finishing : Jackson has ideas, but finishes are lacking at times. Jackson has been careless in front of goal and has become a persistent problem, not something Maresca will welcome as Chelsea struggle to get to the top table.
Defending mistakes: Each of Bournemouth’s goals comes from defensive frailties, this time from penalties conceded by Caicedo, and a missed tackle from Acheampong that allowed Semenyo

Pluses for Chelsea in a woeful game
While Chelsea’s league form remains a cause for concern, there were some positives to take from the match:
Palmer’s Consistency: The young midfielder continues to impress, with his composure in front of goal and ability to create chances a highlight of Chelsea’s campaign.
James’ Leadership: The England international’s return not only provided a vital goal but also offered a calming presence in a side struggling for confidence.

Bournemouth’s Fine Form Continues
The Cherries extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches across all competitions with a strong showing at Stamford Bridge. Despite a slow start, Bournemouth grew into the game and nearly left London with all three points.
Kluivert’s Impact: The Dutchman was a constant menace, scoring from the spot and hitting the post in a dynamic display.
Semenyo’s Brilliance: His thunderous goal highlighted his attacking prowess and ability to exploit defensive weaknesses.

Defensive solidity: Illia Zabarnyi was very instrumental, with so many blocks at Chelsea’s attempts and frustrating the home team most of the game.
The lack of Enes Unal and Evanilson has really forced Bournemouth to dig deep to achieve the excellent run of games.
Impact for Both Teams
Chelsea: The Blues must reaffirm fast, and it will be a home match against Wolves. With that win, they will have captured their first league win of 2025, allowing them to stay in step with the first three teams.
The problems highlighted were that their defense was weak and they could do much better when converting chances into goals. Nicolas Jackson had better finish if Chelsea would turn its fortunes around for the season.
Bournemouth: The Cherries will travel to St. James’ Park to play Newcastle United in their next league match. They could leapfrog the Magpies into fifth with a strong performance and further cement themselves as one of the Premier League’s surprise packages this season.
Looking Ahead
For Chelsea
The Blues need to start regaining consistency and confidence, and that is precisely what they should do in the home matches. Wolves will present a stiff test, but Chelsea badly needs three points if it hopes to stay within the top four.
For Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola’s team has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, and they will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run against Newcastle. A positive result would confirm them as European challengers.