Chelsea emerged victorious in a thrilling Premier League clash against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge, securing a 2-1 win.
This hard-fought victory was marked by dramatic moments, intense play, and multiple VAR checks that added tension to an already exhilarating game.
The Blues took the lead early on, thanks to a skillful play in the 18th minute.
A perfectly timed pass broke through Newcastle’s defensive line, and Pedro Neto sprinted to meet it, delivering a precise cross that found Nicolas Jackson, who confidently slotted the ball past the Newcastle goalkeeper.
However, Chelsea’s lead didn’t last long; Eddie Howe’s team quickly responded, with Alexander Isak capitalizing on a close-range opportunity to level the score before halftime.
In the second half, Chelsea returned with renewed energy, and it didn’t take long for Cole Palmer to seize an opening.
Finding space, Palmer fired a well-placed shot beyond Nick Pope, restoring Chelsea’s lead.
The Blues nearly extended their advantage when Neto’s header hit the post, narrowly missing a third goal that would have further cemented their position.
Chelsea’s win temporarily propelled them to fourth place in the league standings, though their position depended on Arsenal’s outcome in their match against Liverpool later in the day.
Throughout the match, VAR was pivotal, intervening in three key moments that required detailed review.
The first major VAR involvement came in just the fourth minute.
Palmer thought he had given Chelsea an early lead, only for VAR to review the play and disallow the goal, ruling Palmer offside.
The Premier League’s Match Centre later explained: “Cole Palmer’s goal was initially awarded on-field, but VAR checked and confirmed that Palmer was in an offside position, recommending the goal be disallowed.”
VAR was called upon again during Newcastle’s equalizer.
After a close review, the officials upheld the on-field decision, allowing Isak’s goal to stand.
The Match Centre clarified, “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR, as Isak was in an onside position.”
A third and final VAR review took place near the end of the match.
Referee Simon Hooper initially awarded Chelsea a penalty after Dan Burn’s challenge on Christopher Nkunku.
However, VAR recommended that Hooper review the incident at the pitchside monitor.
Following this review, the referee reversed his decision, concluding that Burn’s tackle was fair and restarting play with a drop ball.
The Premier League later explained, “The VAR deemed that no foul was committed and recommended an on-field review, leading to the overturn of the original penalty decision.”
Chelsea’s resilience and offensive determination were evident, helping them claim an important win that reinforces their upward momentum in the league.
Newcastle, though disappointed with some of the tight VAR calls, can take pride in their competitive performance against one of the league’s rising teams.
