Asensio, Rashford spark Aston Villa’s comeback victory over Chelsea

Abdullateef Fowewe

New signings, Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford combined twice as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Chelsea, grabbing a valuable three points in their push for European qualification.

An excellent piece of play out wide from Pedro Neto fashioned a ninth-minute opener for Chelsea, with the winger skipping past Ian Maatsen before drilling a low delivery across the face of goal which only required a slight prod from Enzo Fernandez to turn it past Emilio Martinez.

But Chelsea did not seize control and half-time introduction Rashford who was initially ruled offside before the video assistant referee system overturned the decision helped Aston Villa to level when he tapped a Matty Cash delivery across the six-yard box for Asensio to bundle home.

After once again being fed by fellow mid-season recruit Rashford, Asensio then netted a 90th-minute winner thanks to a huge mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who allowed a first-time strike to slide underneath him.

Villa started slowly but eventually clicked and made the most of Chelsea’s poor defending, getting in behind through good passing play from John McGinn and Youri Tielemans, but the hosts lacked the precision to equalise in the first half as Ollie Watkins failed to convert any of his four efforts.

Cole Palmer’s recent underwhelming form continued as he squandered an glorious chance to restore Chelsea’s lead at 1-1, taking too long to shoot as goalkeeper Martinez slipped twice, giving Ezri Konsa time to rush back and clear his effort.

However, Asensio’s late winner means Villa rise to seventh in the table, a point behind Chelsea and two points off fourth-placed Manchester City.