Marco Asensio’s first goals for Aston Villa secured a dramatic 2-1 win over struggling Chelsea, following a costly mistake by Blues goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen on Saturday.
Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea ahead with a quick-fire opener at Villa Park, in a crucial clash between two teams vying for Champions League qualification.
However, Asensio, who joined Villa on loan from Paris Saint-Germain earlier in February, scored after the break. His goal was initially ruled out for offside but was later awarded after a VAR review.
The former Real Madrid forward then struck Villa’s last-minute winner, as his shot slipped through Jorgensen’s poor attempt at a save.
This blunder added to Chelsea’s long list of goalkeeping errors this season, with Jorgensen replacing the error-prone Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea have now lost four of their last five matches across all competitions, leaving them one point behind the top four in sixth place.
Aston Villa, who drew 2-2 with league leaders Liverpool in midweek, moved to within one point of Chelsea, reigniting their own hopes of a top-four finish.
Chelsea’s struggles continued after a 3-0 loss to Brighton last week, where they failed to register a single shot on target for the first time in a league match since 2021.
Manager Enzo Maresca called it the “worst performance” of his first season in charge but remained optimistic about his team’s Champions League aspirations.
This was a fresh blow to Maresca’s belief as Chelsea capitulated in dismal fashion.
Fernandez put the Blues ahead in the ninth minute with a tap-in after Pedro Neto’s incisive run and low cross prised open Villa’s defence.
Ollie Watkins led Villa’s attempt to respond with a fierce strike that forced a good save from Filip Jorgensen.
Watkins was denied again when Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella got across to make a last-ditch block before Jorgensen saved the Villa striker’s close-range effort.
Fernandez almost doubled the lead with a curling effort that flashed just over, while Cole Palmer’s shot deflected into the side-netting off Villa defender Tyrone Mings.
But Chelsea had won just one of their last five league matches in which they scored the first goal and once again they blew the lead.
Villa boss Unai Emery sent on Marcus Rashford at half-time and the change paid immediate dividends.
Rashford stretched to divert Matty Cash’s cross into the six-yard box, where Asensio was on hand to poke the ball home as Chelsea players appealed for offside.
Initially ruled out, the goal was later awarded after a VAR review confirmed that Fernandez had kept Rashford onside, allowing Asensio to celebrate.
Amid a tough spell, Palmer came close with a low strike from inside the Villa area, but it narrowly missed the target.
He had another chance moments later, breaking clear on goal, but hesitated too long and saw his shot cleared off the line by Ezri Konsa.
That proved to be a pivotal moment, as Villa snatched the points in the 89th minute. Rashford set up Asensio, whose shot slipped through Jorgensen’s grasp and trickled over the line for the winner.