Christopher Nkunku came off the bench to score a late winner, giving Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in a hard-fought match at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. The Blues were fortunate to escape with all three points, as Bournemouth hit the woodwork twice and had a penalty saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Despite a scrappy performance, Chelsea’s deep squad, which has cost over £1 billion in transfer fees, ultimately proved decisive. Nkunku’s 86th-minute goal, a composed low finish after spinning onto Sancho’s pass, was enough to seal the win. It was Nkunku’s first Premier League goal of the season.
Chelsea’s latest signing, Jadon Sancho, who joined from Manchester United on deadline day, made a strong impact after coming on as a half-time substitute. Sancho impressed on his debut, having struggled during his time at United but rediscovering his form on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season.
The match was not without drama, as referee Anthony Taylor handed out a record 14 yellow cards, surpassing the previous Premier League high of 12. However, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca focused on the result rather than the disjointed nature of the performance.
For Bournemouth, it was a case of missed opportunities. Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie both struck the woodwork, and record signing Evanilson saw his first-half penalty saved by Sanchez.
The win lifts Chelsea to seventh in the Premier League with seven points from their first four games, while Bournemouth are eleventh with five points.