Soccer

Chelsea overcome feisty Brentford to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top

Goals from Cucerella and Jackson prove enough for Enzo Maresca’s in-form side to edge an entertaining London derby

Chelsea's Marc Cucurella (middle) celebrates with team-mate Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson after opening the scoring against Brentford in the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: John Walton/PA
Chelsea's Marc Cucurella (middle) celebrates with team-mate Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson after opening the scoring against Brentford in the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. Photograph: John Walton/PA
Jacob Steinberg at Stamford Bridge
Sun Dec 15 2024 - 21:37
Premier League: Chelsea 2 (Cucurella 43, Jackson 80) Brentford 1 (Mbeumo 90)

Keeping up the pretence that this is no title challenge is becoming harder for Chelsea to maintain.

Boosted by Arsenal and Liverpool squandering points on Saturday, Enzo Maresca’s team broke Brentford’s hold over them and delivered in the manner of potential champions by winning a tight game thanks to goals from Marc Cucurella, who was sent off after full-time, and Nicolas Jackson.

No doubt Maresca will stay measured, even after seeing Chelsea end a run of three consecutive home defeats to their neighbours.

He will note that Robert Sánchez, so often maligned, had to make a huge save from Christian Nørgaard at 1-0. Fábio Carvalho, the Brentford substitute, then hit the bar during a nervy finale. Bryan Mbeumo halved the deficit in the 90th minute.

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Overall, though, this was a night of positives for Chelsea. They quelled awkward opponents with their hunger and ruthlessness. They survived a difficult spell and, when Jackson broke to make it 2-0, the crowd erupted.

They know that Chelsea, who are two points below Liverpool, albeit having played a game more, are in the race. The luxury of a deep squad meant fatigue and the absence of seven injured players were unlikely to affect Chelsea after their 18-hour round trip to Kazakhstan to play Astana in the Europa Conference League. Maresca simply brought the A-listers back into the fold and, with his team pinning Brentford back at first, the opening goal seemed a matter of time.

Jackson had the first chance, glancing over from Malo Gusto’s cross, and he was eager to test himself against Brentford’s imposing back three. Hurtling after a long ball down the left in the 11th minute, the striker showed persistence to hold off Ethan Pinnock and shoot powerfully at Mark Flekken.

Brentford’s goalkeeper was busy. Cole Palmer went close from 20 yards and Enzo Fernández ran from deep to shoot at Flekken’s feet. Jadon ­Sancho took on Mads Roerslev and linked with Cucurella. The visitors had to head away a lot of crosses.

If they were outmatched when it came to quality, though, there was nothing wrong with Brentford’s commitment. Unafraid to sit deep, they focused on compressing the space in a bid to stifle Chelsea. There was a crucial block from Pinnock on Jackson and when Chelsea did threaten on the counter, Sancho springing Noni Madueke, Yoane Wissa ran the length of the pitch to clear the danger.

Wissa was feeding off scraps up front, although there were fleeting moments of hope for Brentford. Mikkel Damsgaard, who had infuriated Frank with a couple of botched set pieces, was unfortunate when Levi Colwill charged down his goal‑bound shot.

Brentford kept looking to land a sucker punch. The competitiveness was high, both sides robust in the tackle. Chelsea were pressing impressively, Moisés Caicedo running midfield, Madueke almost scoring after forcing a turnover, but they needed a spark.

An unlikely source provided it when Madueke cut in from the right and delivered an inswinging cross two minutes before half-time. Brentford’s concentration dipped for the first time and Cucurella, all heart, desire and bouncy hair, ran in between Roerslev and Sepp van den Berg to direct a low header past Flekken.

The left-back was a popular scorer with the home fans, who love the Spaniard’s spiky wholeheartedness. A player of ceaseless energy, Cucurella epitomises Chelsea’s rise in many ways. Derided at first after joining from Brighton two years ago, the defender has fought to establish himself and made himself invaluable to Maresca, who tasked Cucurella both with nullifying Mbeumo and playing a mix of full-back and demented roving midfielder here.

Brentford struggled to cope with the constant surges. Cucurella was at right-back early in the second half, scampering across to stop a counterattack, and his drive lifted Chelsea. The intensity was superb and they should have doubled their lead before the hour, only for Jackson to spoon Sancho’s cross over from yards out.

There was no way out for Brentford. Flekken tried to start a counterattack with a quick throw to Keane Lewis-Potter, only for Caicedo to intervene. Chelsea attacked again and Sancho, wriggling through on the left, was denied by determined defending.

Brentford stirred. They went direct and an equaliser beckoned when Chelsea failed to clear their lines from a corner. Nørgaard thought his volley was in before Sánchez tipped it over.

Chelsea wobbled. Carvalho, just off the bench, hit the bar from close range. But then came Jackson on the break, running at Pinnock. His shot flew past Flekken and, perhaps for the first time, it felt like Stamford Bridge truly believed.

Mbeumo’s late goal was a mere consolation. It was feisty at the end and Cucurella was sent off after full-time following a mini melee. — Guardian