Brentford have been one of the big surprises this season and they have already managed to take points from the big clubs Arsenal and Liverpool. Today they were to try to do it again when Chelsea came to visit west London.
The home team, which had three Danes in the starting line-up, was quite fine in the showdown, and they should also have taken the lead after 20 minutes. Christian Nørgaard got the ball off to Bryan Mbeumo close to goal, but the Frenchman sent his finish on the post.
On the ensuing counterattack, Timo Werner served the ball to his attacking partner, Romelu Lukaku, and the great Belgian safely kicked the ball into goal. However, the linebacker raised the flag for offside, so the home team escaped with the horror this time around.
Ten minutes before the break, it was Lukaku who put Werner up on the edge of the field, but the German striker has not had a turn in it this season, and he also sent the otherwise fine opportunity far above goal. One minute before the break, however, it no longer went for the home team.
Brentford did not clear a clearance and the ball bounced off to Ben Chilwell, who was lurking on the edge of the box. The left-back did not hesitate and pressed for the ball immediately, and the finish streaked up the corner with no chance for David Raya on the line, and then the visitors could go to the break with a 1-0 lead.
Down with a single goal, there was still hope for points for the home team, but they did not really manage to create any scoring opportunities during the first 20 minutes of the second half. However, the same picture applied to Chelsea.
20 minutes before time, however, the visitors should have put themselves further ahead when Lukaku got a gigantic offer. Werner got his finish in the box blocked, but the ball bounced straight to the Belgian, who was completely free close to goal. The big striker is usually incredibly sharp, but he missed the big chance as he managed to send the ball far over goal.
A few minutes later it was then Brentford who were close to getting equalized. They sent a long throw into the box and the ball dumped down at the feet of Ivan Toney, who sent a hard finish off towards goal. However, Èdouard Mendy made a spectacular save. Just a minute later, the visitors' goalkeeper had to send a loving thought to one post as it rejected Mbeumo from the home side for the second time in today's clash.
Brentford got the belief that they could pick up a point, but they kept wasting their great chances. Seven minutes before time, they got a great double chance, but first Mendy delivered an excellent save, and on the return Nørgaard had to see his finish cleared close to the finish line. A few minutes later, Mendy again had to dish up a great save as he with his head took care of Pontus Jansson's finish from close range.
Deep into overtime, Nørgaard tried with a fantastic scissor kick, but unfortunately for the Dane, nothing could pass Mendy in the Chelsea goal. The Senegalese again lifted a fantastic save out of the sleeve and got the ball over goal.
It was also the last chance of the match and Chelsea could thank a great player Mendy for the three points. The Blues from London thus pass Liverpool in first place in the Premier League, and have a point down to them in second place.
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