Aston Villa’s Champions League aspirations got a huge boost on Saturday night as Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio combined to help Unai Emery’s Villans complete a comeback 2-1 win over Chelsea in a Premier League match at Villa Park on Sunday.
Both sides came into the fixture looking to grab an advantage on the other in the race for Champions League football next term, and it was the Villans that secured the important points in a clash the Blues should have won.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca tweaked his team selection prior to kick-off, with Reece James moving into a midfield three beside Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, while Pedro Neto played upfront as the lone striker.
But the visitors suffered an early blow when Trevoh Chalobah went off clutching his lower back following a clash with Marco Asensio and had to be replaced by Tosin Adarabioyo.
Despair soon turned to joy for Chelsea through the opening goal in the opening half after some fine work by Pedro Neto, who teed up Enzo Fernandez to tap into an empty net.
By half-time, Villa boss Unai Emery turned to his bench for inspiration, bringing on Marcus Rashford and the loanee from Manchester United proved his mettle shortly afterwards.
Matty Cash’s cross from the right found Rashford, who managed to dig the ball back across goal towards Asensio before the Spaniard somehow managed to claw the ball back and send his effort across the line.
But after a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood as it was established that Enzo Fernandez had played Rashford onside.
Chelsea should have scored a second goal when Moises Caicedo sent Cole Palmer through on goal but the England international’s shot was blocked on the line by Ezri Konsa who had raced back to avert the danger.
There was still time for Villa to grab the winner, which came under fortuitous circumstances. A short corner by Youri Tielemans and Marcus Rashford found Asensio, whose effort squirmed under Chelsea keeper Filip Jorgensen who should have done better in saving the Spaniard’s effort.
The win sees Villa move just one point behind Chelsea on the Premier League table.