Fabio Carvalho’s stoppage-time goal delivered a point to Brentford in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.
MORE — Enzo Maresca post-game reaction as it happens
The Bees had taken an early lead through Kevin Schade but fell behind their visitors when Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo pushed the Blues in front.
WATCH — Brentford v Chelsea full match replay
Chelsea fail to summit the table, their eight points one back of four teams, while Brentford sit 12th as one of five teams with four points.
Chelsea’s depth, inexperience betray it
Enzo Maresca believed he could navigate Brentford and get three points without taxing some of his experienced stars ahead of this week’s start of the UEFA Champions League. It’s not a bad bet, but it did not work out well in the end. The Blues were already without a fully-fit Cole Palmer, and kept their star on the bench along with Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto, and Reece James. New additions Facundo Buonanotte and Jamie Gittens were not great in their short time on the pitch, and Maresca changed both fullbacks at halftime after Wesley Fofana was partly to blame for Kevin Schade’s opener. The Blues then added Palmer into the mix and were so much better. New signing Alejandro Garnacho then came into the game and played a role in Chelsea’s second goal, but the defensive awareness-challenged Argentine failed to account for Carvalho on the equalizer. These depth challenges are what ultimately lead to some teams failing in their domestic or continental pursuits, and the first such test of the season was a failure. Levi Colwill and Liam Delap are out a while and Romeo Lavia was missing today, so these same players today will have to do better.
What’s next?
Chelsea have a double whammy of a week, going to Bayern Munich on Wednesday to start the UEFA Champions League before traveling to Old Trafford to face Manchester United at 12:30pm ET Saturday.
Brentford have a League Cup third round home tie with Aston Villa on Tuesday, then the Bees will return to the Premier League for a visit to Fulham at 3pm Saturday.
How to watch Brentford vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Saturday (September 13)
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium — London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Brentford vs Chelsea final score: 2-2
Kevin Schade 35', Cole Palmer 61', Moises Caicedo 85', Fabio Carvalho 90+3'
Brentford vs Chelsea live updates — by Nick Mendola
Fabio Carvalho goal — Brentford 2-2 Chelsea
The Bees equalize in stoppage time!
A long throw is flicked to the back post, where Fabio Carvalho is alone to belt in the loose ball!
Moises Caicedo goal — Brentford 1-2 Chelsea
Garnacho swings in a dangerous pass. Brentford manage that but the danger returns atop the box,
Moises Caicedo hammers a ball through traffic that sends up a glorious clank as it threatens the net’s status as attached the frame.
Wow.
Enter Alejandro Garnacho
He’ll have an 11-minute plus stoppage time Chelsea debut in place of Joao Pedro.
Can he have the same impact as Palmer?
Robert Sanchez steps up
The Chelsea keeper made a save right after Palmer’s equalizer, and now he comes flying off his line to deny what would’ve been a pretty goal.
Yehor Yarmoliuk started the play with a scintillating diagonal ball from the left at midfield.
Bees aren’t going away.
Cole Palmer goal — Brentford 1-1 Chelsea
Didn’t take long!
Enzo Fernandez’s cross is to Joao Pedro, who might’ve gotten the last touch while leaping between two defenders.
Palmer cleans up the loose ball with a fine finish, his 50th senior goal.
Enter Cole Palmer
Out goes Jamie Gittens, and it’ll be the return of Cole Palmer in his place.
56th minute.
Kelleher save, Chelsea corner
Tyrique George has a chance driving down the right, and Brentford keeper Caoimhín Kelleher slaps it wide of the far post.
The ensuing corner kick comes to nothing.
Still 1-0 Bees in the 53rd minute.
Chelsea triple sub
No surprises here in that Maresca needed something to invigorate the Blues in the final third.
Both fullbacks exit — Jorell Hato and Wesley Fofana — for Marc Cucurella and Reece James, while Tyrique George enters for Facundo Buonanotte.
George will likely go up top and Joao Pedro will drop into the hole.
Halftime — Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca might’ve been a bit too cute with his lineup selection, as a trip to Bayern Munich is coming next week.
Familiar names Cucurella, Gusto, James, and Palmer are on the bench, as is new signing Alejandro Garnacho.
Brentford boss Keith Andrews has options, too, but little reason to do anything as of yet. Henderson’s assist was the magic needed to turn a bid for a draw into a point.
Now can they keep defending until the next big counter attack?
Enzo Fernandez comes close
The Chelsea man wins a corner with a strong strike.
The Blues are all over possession but the danger’s been difficult to mine.
Kevin Schade goal — Brentford 1-0 Chelsea
Good goal!
Jordan Henderson sends a gorgeous ball over the top of Chelsea’s back line.
Neither Tosin Adarabioyo or Wesley Fofana can stop Schade from getting onto his right foot and he fires between Adarabioyo’s legs, the ball taking a slight turn off a calf before flying past Robert Sanchez.
Cole Palmer makes the bench
Injury-doubt Cole Palmer could feature as a substitute, while Reece James, Marc Cucurella, and Alejandro Garnacho are also listed amongst the subs.
Brentford lineup
Kelleher, Kayode, Van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter, Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Schade, Thiago
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez, Fofana, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, Hato, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Buonanotte, Gittens, Pedro
Brentford vs Chelsea preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
The Bees have lost both of their away games so far but did beat Aston Villa in their only home game so far this season and have shown signs they can cope with losing manager Thomas Frank and several key players over the summer. We know they love the role of underdogs and this is another opportunity to prove it.
Aside from a 30-minute spell against West Ham, Chelsea are yet to really get going this season. They beat Fulham 2-0 in controversial fashion before the international break as VAR interventions helped them out massively. Enzo Maresca has a few injury problems to contend with, while Chelsea return to Champions League action next week so may rotate their massive, and hugely talented, squad.
Brentford team news, focus
Dango Ouattara has been sensational since his arrival from Bournemouth and Brazilian forward Igor Thiago has scored twice in three games as his injury issues appear to be behind him. Brentford are still a very similar team to the one we saw overachieve under Thomas Frank and even though they’ve lost Flekken, Norgaard, Mbeumo, and Wissa this summer, they look strong enough to stay up.
OUT: Gustavo Nunes (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Yunus Emre Konak (ankle), Paris Maghoma (other)
Chelsea team news, focus
There are plenty of injury concerns for Maresca and it will be intriguing to see how he lines his team up in attack with Liam Delap out injured. Joao Pedro could lead the line, with Estevao, Pedro Neto and new signing Alejandro Garnacho behind him. Red-hot Joao Pedro and teenager Estevao were on duty for Brazil during the international break so may be rested, so that is something to keep an eye on. Star playmaker Cole Palmer missed the wins against West Ham and Fulham and was out during the international break as he works his way back from a groin issue.
OUT: Liam Delap (thigh), Dario Essugo (thigh), Romeo Lavia (undisclosed), Levi Colwill (torn ACL - MORE), Benoit Badiashile (knock), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: Cole Palmer (groin - MORE), Alejandro Garnacho (fitness)
Brentford vs Chelsea prediction
Chelsea have so many wonderful attacking options that it’s hard to see how they don’t win this game comfortably and pick holes in Brentford’s defense. Brentford 1-3 Chelsea.
