April 02, (THEWILL) – Brentford overwhelmed Chelsea 4-1, thanks to a stunning second-half display, with the rejuvenated Christian Eriksen among the goal scorers and Vitaly Janelt scoring twice.
In the opening moments, the hosts appeared to be suffering from an international hangover, throwing the ball away on numerous occasions and allowing pressure from the tenacious Bees.
In the first quarter of an hour, Brentford top man Ivan Toney came near three times, the first time looping a chip over the bar with the goal gaping after Chelsea goalie Edouard Mendy had given him the ball straight. After pushing the striker’s low effort around the post, the goalkeeper was forced to head another chance over two minutes later.
Chelsea ultimately regained their composure, but they continued to struggle to create anything noteworthy in the second half. Mason Mount sent a shot wide after 21 minutes had elapsed.
Chelsea’s greatest chance of the half came from Hakim Ziyech, whose powerful attempt was acrobatically stopped by the jumping David Raya after Antonio Rudiger had flashed his typical pot-shot over.
In the second half, the game erupted into life, with an astonishing four goals scored in the span of 15 minutes. Rudiger ultimately broke the tie by nailing one of those insane long-range attempts, smashing the ball in off the post from 35 yards out.
But the Bees were level just a minute later, thanks to a wonderful strike from their own German, Vitaly Janelt, who arrived on the edge of the box to ping a powerful strike past the goalie.
Brentford took the lead just two minutes later, with Bryan Mbeumo leading a break and sending the ball on a platter for Eriksen, who happily lifted the ball over the exposed Mendy.
If Thomas Frank’s team was not already in dreamland in west London, another superb finish from Janelt took them there as he dinked a stranded Mendy to give Brentford an unbelievable two-goal lead.
Kai Havertz came within inches of pulling one back twice. Before blasting the ball into the roof of the net from a free kick, the German was assessed to have handled the ball, and he then proceeded to prod and head two attempts just beyond Raya’s post.
With three minutes remaining, the hosts’ sorrow was increased when the ball fell to Brentford substitute Yoane Wissa after some shoddy defending, and he smashed the ball into the net to give Brentford the unbelievable 4-1 win.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
