Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea: Late Nkunku strike snatches victory for Blues

Christopher Nkunku proved Chelsea’s hero as his late strike secured a narrow 1-0 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The forward climbed off the bench to strike the winner five minutes from time at the Vitality Stadium, where Robert Sanchez kept out Evanilson’s first-half penalty.

Bournemouth looked the more likely to take all three points in the contest, with Marcus Tavernier’s long-range thunderbolt rattling the crossbar early on.

Sanchez then came to rescue on 38 minutes by denying Evanilson from 12 yards, albeit after he had conceded the spot-kick for a foul on the Brazilian.

The woodwork denied the Cherries again after the break, with Ryan Christie seeing his precise low effort hit the outside of Sanchez’s right post.

However, it was Chelsea who snatched the points with five minutes remaining. Receiving the ball from Jadon Sancho, Nkunku cleverly skipped away from a couple of challenges before slotting past Mark Travers in the Bournemouth net.

4 – All four of Christopher Nkunku’s Premier League goals for Chelsea have come away from home as a substitute. Super. pic.twitter.com/qDXnV9CwI2

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 14, 2024

Data Debrief: More happy travels for super sub Nkunku

Nkunku’s piece of individual brilliance settled the contest. All four of his Premier League goals for Chelsea have come away from home as a substitute.

The Blues held out at the other end to claim their first away league clean sheet in 18 attempts, while winning four straight matches on the road for the first time since 2022.

Meanwhile, history was made at the Vitality Stadium with the referee showing a total of 14 yellow cards; the highest amount issued in a single Premier League game.