Chelsea and Bournemouth draw 2-2 at Stamford Bridge after a frantic first half, with Antoine Semenyo central to all four goals.
Chelsea and Bournemouth played out a breathless 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. All four goals arrived inside the opening 27 minutes. Neither side could find a winner after the break, despite chances at both ends. The result extended poor runs for both clubs.
Bournemouth struck first after just six minutes. Antoine Semenyo’s long throw caused chaos in the box. David Brooks saw his first effort saved before bundling in the rebound. Chelsea’s defensive confusion set the tone for a wild opening.
The hosts responded through Cole Palmer from the penalty spot. Semenyo brought down Estevao in the area, with VAR confirming the decision. Palmer kept his composure to score in the 15th minute and pull Chelsea level. Momentum swung quickly.
Chelsea went ahead eight minutes later. Enzo Fernandez collected Alejandro Garnacho’s pass and fired into the top corner. It was his 100th Premier League appearance and a milestone goal. Stamford Bridge briefly settled.
That calm did not last long. Bournemouth equalised four minutes later from another Semenyo long throw. Trevoh Chalobah flicked on, allowing Justin Kluivert to tap in unmarked. The first half ended level after a chaotic spell.
The tempo dropped after the break as both sides tightened up. Chelsea enjoyed more possession and territorial control. Estevao tested Djordje Petrovic with a low strike from range. VAR also dismissed a handball appeal against Malo Gusto.
Fernandez missed the clearest chance of the half. He blazed over from inside the box in the 77th minute. Bournemouth nearly stole it late on, but Enes Unal volleyed over from 12 yards in stoppage time.
Semenyo was central to the contest. His long throws directly led to both Bournemouth goals. He also conceded the penalty that brought Chelsea back into the game. Despite transfer speculation, his commitment to the Bournemouth course was clear.
For Chelsea, Fernandez stood out in midfield. His goal capped a strong display, though his late miss proved costly. Estevao consistently troubled Bournemouth’s defence. Brooks and Kluivert impressed for the visitors in attack.
Bournemouth registered 14 first half shots, testing Robert Sanchez repeatedly. Chelsea finished with an expected goals total of 2.31 from 17 attempts. Bournemouth posted a higher xG of 3.14 from the same number of shots. Chelsea have now dropped 15 points from winning positions this season.
The Blues have won just one of their past seven league games. Bournemouth remain winless in 10 league matches. Both sides sit in the congested middle of the table. Pressure continues to build on both managers.
Chelsea travel to Manchester City on Sunday. They will be without Moises Caicedo, suspended after his fifth booking. It is a daunting start to 2026 for Enzo Maresca’s side. Chelsea then face Fulham in the league, Charlton the FA Cup and Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
Bournemouth host league leaders Arsenal on Saturday before hosting Tottenham on January 7th. Andoni Iraola expects Semenyo to be available again. The Cherries will hope their attacking threat finally converts into a win. Both teams need points quickly to change momentum.
