Marco Asensio scored two goals as Aston Villa overturned a deficit to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Villa Park, earning their first Premier League victory in six matches and edging closer to the the European spots.
Chelsea began brightly and went ahead in the ninth minute, when Pedro Neto’s cross found an unmarked Enzo Fernández, who poked in from close range. The visitors kept the pressure on when Fernández and Cole Palmer went close and Christopher Nkunku tested Emiliano Martínez. Desperate to win for the first time since January, Villa lacked clear opportunities in the first half.
The arrival of Marcus Rashford after the break gave Unai Emery’s side life, and he was pivotal to the equaliser. Matty Cash hit a diagonal pass to Rashford, who assisted Asensio for a simple finish in the 60th minute. Chelsea almost went back in front by Palmer but Ezri Konsa made a timely clearance off the line.
Villa’s impressive fightback was complete in the 89th minute when Rashford linked up with Youri Tielemans before teeing up Asensio, who finished clinically past Filip Jörgensen. The win puts Villa a point behind Chelsea, who are still without a win in their past six matches away from home in the league.
