In a captivating encounter at the City Ground, Chelsea orchestrated a remarkable comeback to secure a pulsating 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, marking their first triumph in four head-to-head meetings since the Reds’ promotion to the Premier League.
The match began with a flurry of action as Chris Wood threatened early on for Forest, only to be denied by the resolute Dorde Petrovic in Chelsea’s goal. However, it was the visitors who drew first blood, with Cole Palmer’s pinpoint pass setting up Mykhailo Mudryk to calmly break his 10-game goalless streak across all competitions.
Forest wasted no time in responding, as Murillo’s surging run earned a free-kick, expertly dispatched by Morgan Gibbs-White and met by Willy Boly’s header, deflecting off Conor Gallagher to level the scores.
Despite a frenetic start, the pace of the game eventually settled, though chances continued to present themselves. Wood and Nicolas Jackson came close for Forest, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Thiago Silva saw efforts denied by the woodwork for Chelsea.
Amidst the back-and-forth exchanges, Hudson-Odoi showcased his resilience against his former club, curling in a sublime effort to restore Chelsea’s lead. However, Raheem Sterling wasted little time in equalizing for Forest with a similar finish.
The defining moment arrived when Reece James, making his first appearance since December, provided a pinpoint cross for Jackson to head home the winner, completing a breathtaking turnaround for Chelsea.
With their third consecutive victory, Chelsea now sit level on points with sixth-placed Newcastle United in the Premier League table, bolstering their European football aspirations. Meanwhile, despite Forest’s tantalizing proximity to safety, their quest for survival awaits mathematical confirmation.
