Brentford 2-2 Chelsea: Carvalho's last-gasp goal denies Blues' comeback dream

Fabio Carvalho tapped in a 93rd-minute equaliser from a long throw to earn Brentford a 2-2 draw after Moises Caicedo had smashed Chelsea ahead late on.

Match Report

Chelsea looked all set to take the three points away from the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday when Moises Caicedo thundered in from the edge of the box in the 85th minute.

Caicedo's brilliant strike saw Chelsea, who were well below par in the first half, complete the turnaround after Cole Palmer – making his return from injury as a substitute – had dragged the Blues level just after the hour, cancelling out Kevin Schade’s 35th-minute opener.

Palmer saw a golden chance for a second pass him by, while Pedro Neto was thwarted by Ethan Pinnock before Caicedo clattered in.

Yet just as Brentford appeared to be heading for a third defeat from their opening four Premier League matches, Keith Andrews' team came up with a leveller when substitute Carvalho bundled in from a long throw in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.

Chelsea, who face Bayern Munich in the Champions League next week, would have moved top of the early standings with a win, but instead sit in fifth with eight points from their opening four league games.

Data Debrief: Carvalho loves a late show

All six of the Premier League goals that former Liverpool attacker Carvalho has scored have been in the 75th minute or later, with each of his last four coming in or after the 89th minute.

It was a long throw that caused havoc for Chelsea's defence, and the Bees have now scored seven league goals directly from throw-ins since the start of last season, at least five more than any other team in the division.

While Enzo Maresca, who made three substitutes at half-time, such was the lacklustre nature of Chelsea's first-half display, will no doubt be frustrated at his team's defending, the Italian can at least take solace in the fact that Palmer is back from injury after missing the Blues' last two games.

Palmer's goal was his first in open play in the Premier League since January, while the England international has now netted 50 career goals in club football (44 for Chelsea, six for Manchester City). Despite only coming on in the 56th minute, the playmaker had more shots (five) than any other player.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' Buonanotte picks out Pedro in the box and the Brazilian's shot is blocked

6' Big chance for Brentford as Schade's shot is blocked for a corner

8' Brentford striker Igor Thiago is booked for pulling the shirt of Trevoh Chalobah

13' Neto swings in the free-kick and Adarabioyo's header is straight at Kelleher

19' Chalobah plays a fantastic ball over the top to Neto, who fails to get a shot

30' Jorrel Hato is booked for fouling Igor Thiago

35' GOAL! Henderson plays a great ball to Schade to score! Brentford 1-0 Chelsea

41' Trevoah Chalobah drills a shot well over the bar from distance

43' Gittens cuts in and curls a shot but it's an easy save for Kelleher

45' Nice move from Chelsea and Enzo Fernandez has a shot deflected wide

54' George pulls the ball back for Cucurella, whose shot is saved

56' Cole Palmer replaces Jamie Gittens for Chelsea

61' GOAL! Enzo's cross towards Palmer, who volleys home! Brentford 1-1 Chelsea

64' Cole Palmer is fouled by Yehor Yarmoliuk, who goes into the book

67' Highlight from Brentford vs Chelsea

75' Neto picks out Palmer, who hits from 12 yards but saved

79' Chelsea send on Alejandro Garnacho for his debut as Joao Pedro is replaced

85' GOAL! Caicedo crashes a hit from Garnacho's cross! Brentford 1-2 Chelsea

88' Highlight from Brentford vs Chelsea

93' GOAL! Carvalho scores at the last moment! Brentford 2-2 Chelsea

Line-ups

Brentford XI: Henderson, Kelleher, Mathias Jensen, Ethan Pinnock, Van den Berg, Keane Lewis-Potter, Nathan Collins, Kevin Schade, Igor Thiago, Yegor Yarmolyuk, Michael Kayode

Subs: Kristoffer Ajer, Rico Henry, Janelt, Nelson, Frank Onyeka, Hákon Valdimarsson, Fabio Carvalho, Aaron Hickey, Dango Ouattara

Chelsea XI: Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Wesley Fofana, João Pedro, Enzo, Caicedo, Gittens, Jorrel Hato, Facundo Buonanotte

Subs: Cucurella, Reece James, Cole Palmer, Jørgensen, Gusto, Garnacho, Andrey Santos, Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George