Saturday's matches in the 27th round of the Premier League brought unexpected outcomes at top stadiums. Aston Villa, fighting for the highest goals, saved a 1:1 draw with Leeds United at the last moment thanks to a goal from Tammy Abraham. Meanwhile, Chelsea, playing with ten men, failed to hold onto their lead and dropped points in stoppage time against relegation-threatened Burnley at Stamford Bridge.

Tammy Abraham's Return

The Aston Villa striker scored his first goal after returning to the club in the 88th minute, rescuing a draw in the clash with Leeds United.

Chelsea's Drama in Stoppage Time

Despite leading from the 4th minute, Chelsea drew 1:1 with Burnley after a goal by Zian Flemming in the 93rd minute.

Fofana's Red Card

Defender Wesley Fofana was sent off in the 72nd minute, which directly impacted the Londoners' loss of control.

Anton Stach's Wonder Goal

The Leeds midfielder scored with a free kick from 30 meters, which nearly secured a sensational victory for his team.

Saturday's series of matches in the English top flight was marked by missed opportunities for the powerhouses. At Villa Park, the hosts, who dream of challenging league-leading Arsenal, faced Leeds United. Although the team of Unai Emery was the favorite, the visitors took the lead in the 31st minute after a spectacular free-kick strike by Anton Stach. Villa, despite optical dominance, had immense difficulty breaking through the defense of the "Peacocks." Only the introduction of substitute Tammy Abraham in the 75th minute changed the match's fate. The striker, recently brought in from Besiktas, directed the ball into the net with his knee in the 88th minute, rescuing a point for the hosts. However, this result is viewed as a failure in the context of the title race. Simultaneously at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea fans experienced another disappointment. The match against Burnley started perfectly for "The Blues" when Joao Pedro gave them the lead as early as the 4th minute. The team controlled the game until the 72nd minute, when Wesley Fofana received a second yellow card for a brutal foul and had to leave the pitch. Playing with a man down came back to haunt the hosts in the 93rd minute. After a corner taken by James Ward-Prowse, an unmarked Zian Flemming headed the ball to level the score at 1:1. This point is hugely significant for the visitors in their fight for survival, while the Londoners have severely complicated their situation in the race for a Champions League spot. Aston Villa was considered a solid mid-table team for decades, but under Unai Emery in recent seasons, it has harkened back to its glory years of 1982, when it won the European Cup by defeating Bayern Munich in the final. Historical statistics before this match indicated Chelsea's dominance over Burnley (just one defeat in 19 league meetings), but after Saturday's draw, this record now includes 20 matches in the Premier League era with still only one win for "The Clarets." Notably, after this match, Burnley has 9 points earned in Premier League history against Chelsea, with as many as 8 of them secured away in London. For Aston Villa, this was the third consecutive home match without a victory, raising concerns among fans in Birmingham. „I had only been on the pitch for 13 minutes, but scoring that goal felt like a dream return to Villa Park.” — Tammy Abraham

Mentioned People

  • Tammy Abraham — Aston Villa striker, scorer of the equalizing goal in the match against Leeds.
  • Unai Emery — Aston Villa manager, responsible for the club's sporting development.
  • Joao Pedro — Goal scorer for Chelsea in the clash with Burnley.
  • Wesley Fofana — Chelsea defender who received a red card.