Super sub Nkunku gives Chelsea win at Bournemouth
Christopher Nkunku came off the bench to score the decisive goal as Chelsea secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. The French striker’s late goal marked his first Premier League goal of the season, lifting Chelsea to seventh place with seven points from four matches.
Chelsea, under the guidance of new manager Enzo Maresca, endured a tough match where Bournemouth dominated large stretches of play. Robert Sanchez, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, played a crucial role in keeping the Blues in the game by saving a first-half penalty from Bournemouth’s Evanilson. Bournemouth also struck the woodwork twice, with efforts from Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie narrowly missing the target.
However, Chelsea’s strength in depth came to the fore. Jadon Sancho, making his debut for the club after a deadline-day move from Manchester United, impressed after being introduced as a half-time substitute. It was Sancho’s slick pass that found Nkunku, who spun expertly and slotted the ball into the net with a low finish, securing all three points for the Blues.
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“It was a tough game, but you cannot come here and win without getting your shirt dirty,” said Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. “The team battled hard, and Nkunku’s goal was the difference in the end.”
Nkunku’s match-winning contribution came in a game that saw a Premier League record set for yellow cards, with referee Anthony Taylor issuing 14 yellow cards during the match, surpassing the previous record of 12.
Jadon Sancho, whose Chelsea debut was highly anticipated after his struggles at Manchester United, expressed his delight at making an impact for his new club. “First of all, it is amazing to make my debut for Chelsea. Just being back playing, I’m very grateful,” Sancho said. “I’ve been working hard for this moment and I’m just happy that I got my chance.”
Despite their loss, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola lamented the missed opportunities, particularly Evanilson’s missed penalty. “We had more everything—more shots, more corners—but at the end, what really matters is to score, and they did it at the end,” Iraola said.
Chelsea’s next challenge will be maintaining their momentum as they continue their Premier League campaign, while Bournemouth will seek to bounce back from the narrow defeat.
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