Chelsea vs Brentford. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance39,061.
Match report and highlights as Christian Eriksen, a Vitaly Janelt double and late strike from Yoane Wissa seal a historic win for Brentford; Antonio Rudiger had opened scoring with goal-of-season contender; Bees' first league win at Chelsea in 83 years moves them 11 points above drop
Sunday 3 April 2022 06:16, UK
Brentford produced arguably the performance of the season to thrash Chelsea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Christian Eriksen among the goal scorers as they sealed a first west London derby victory at their rivals in 83 years.
Thomas Frank's side impressed in the first half but trailed three minutes into the second when Antonio Rudiger fired home an incredible thunderbolt from 40 yards.
Rudiger and Chelsea supporters celebrated the goal-of-the-season contender wildly - and no one expected what was to come next.
Vitaly Janelt blasted in an equaliser from the edge of the box just two minutes later, sparking a spell which saw the two teams slug away at each other. During the chaos, Kristoffer Ajer pulled off a superb block to deny Kai Havertz.
But it was the Bees who then struck again with a lightning breakaway led by Bryan Mbeumo, who teed up Eriksen to tuck in the second from close range.
It's another chapter in the fairy-tale return to football for Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the Euros last summer but marked his comeback to the international stage with two goals in two games for Denmark last week.
As for the Brentford story, that looks set to continue in the Premier League next season after this incredible win.
Janelt found the net again on the hour mark after a superb pass from Ivan Toney and although Chelsea threw themselves forward in search of a goal back - and thought they got one when Havertz had a goal ruled out and should have got one when Havertz rolled a shot from a one-on-one wide - sub Yoane Wissa capitalised on Rudiger's poor clearance to fire in a fourth.
"Champions of Europe? You're having a laugh," sang the travelling supporters, witnessing one of the greatest days in their club's history.
The Chelsea season ticket holders - the only Blues fans allowed in due to government sanctions - will want to move on quickly, with the defence of their Champions League title on the line against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
They had won their last five in the league and pre-game it felt as though Brentford's Premier League fate would more likely be decided by their clash with Watford in a couple of weeks' time. Brentford, after all, had failed to score in their two previous meetings with Chelsea this season.
They should have been a couple clear with just 11 minutes on the clock, with Toney miscuing a lob from Edouard Mendy's gift of a pass before the striker headed a cross narrowly over the bar.
An Eriksen free-kick and a Toney drive were among the other chances they created during an impressive opening.
Chelsea had to wait until the 21st minute for their first attempt when Mason Mount shot over and although there were subsequent efforts from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mount and Rudiger, they were tame ones, with the hosts struggling to break through the Brentford system.
Chelsea's best moment of the first half came on 40 minutes, when Hakim Ziyech forced Bees goalkeeper David Raya to brilliantly tip over his bar, and they began the second half positively.
But Brentford seized the west London bragging rights in sensational style, winning for the first time here since 1939 - and worryingly for Chelsea, with the gap to an Arsenal side with a game in hand now just five points, their north London neighbours could be coming for them too.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel: "We lost control in 10 minutes. 3-1 within 10 minutes was decisive. We lacked energy today and we looked mentally and physically tired after being around the world. We thought we got the result [at 1-0] but we forgot we still had 40 minutes to play.
"After so many wins and so many good results I refuse to make a drama out of it because why should we. Brentford made a lot of the 10 minutes we gave them. After the third goal we had a disallowed goal, we had a pressing situation against the goalkeeper, a big, big chance for Havertz, we missed three of them and a feeling 'this is not our day'. There are some reasons we can put on us and we will analyse."
Brentford boss Thomas Frank: "Christian is a top player, an unbelievable character and he brings quality and calmness to the team. You can give it to Christian and he'll always find a solution.
"From the beginning I thought 'everything has been checked in his entire body'. He didn't have an injury like an ACL. When he took that decision he wanted to play in the World Cup, he had that determination: 'I want to come back into football'
"His foundation physically was quite good. We never knew how quick it would take to get to this level but it's impressive how quick.
Frank on his surprise switch to a back three: "Today I was a genius - next Sunday I might be an unbelievable mad man! That's football. When you play against the best team we need to defend well. The back three is much more difficult to break down."
Chelsea are in Champions League action on Tuesday as they host Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final; 8pm kick-off. Then on Saturday, April 9 the Blues go to Southampton in the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.
Meanwhile, Brentford host West Ham on Sunday, April 10; kick-off 2pm.
