Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE: Blues denied 95th-minute winner by controversial VAR decision – latest updates
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CHELSEA were denied a late win over Aston Villa thanks to VAR as a fiery contest finished 2-2 at Villa Park.
The Blues went 2-0 down in the first half thanks to a Marc Cucurella own goal and Morgan Rogers' smart finish.
But Chelsea were excellent in the second period as they were brought back level by Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher.
Axel Diasi scored a 95th-minute winner but VAR adjudged Benoit Badiashile's nudge on Diego Carlos in the build-up to be a foul and it was ruled out.
- Kick-off time: 8pm BST
- Stream/TV: NOW TV/Sky Sports PL
- Villa XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bailey, McGinn, Luiz, Rogers, Tielemans, Watkins
- Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
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What are the odds?
Match result
- Aston Villa - 23/20
- Draw - 11/4
- Chelsea - 2/1
*Odds courtesy of Paddy Power and are correct at the time of publication.
Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
50. Cole Palmer seems to have drifted further out to the right-hand side of the pitch now, with Madueke somewhat inverting.
Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
47. Early chance for Chelsea, who have started the second half on the front foot.
Madueke and Jackson combine on the right-hand side, before a cross goes into Cucurella who fires a difficult chance over on the half volley.
SUB! Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
46. The second half gets underway and we have news of a huge change for Aston Villa.
Robin Olsen is on for Emiliano Martinez in goal.
The Argentine keeper reportedly has a hamstring issue.
Half-time stats:
This is how the match stats look at half time.
Chelsea have dominated possession and had two brilliant chances, one which was converted by Nicolas Jackson and then ruled out by VAR, and one which was headed against the post by the striker.
They have failed to make it count, and it has been quite the opposite story for Villa, who have been clinical.
![Chelsea have dominated possession, but find themselves 2-0 down at half-time.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 960 960"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea have dominated possession, but find themselves 2-0 down at half-time. HALF-TIME! Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
HT. Half-time here at Villa Park, and the scoreline is grim reading for Chelsea fans.
They've had chances, and this game is far from over - but there is lots to do in the second half against a Villa team who have only dropped five points from winning positions this season.
Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
45+3. Gallagher is bought down in the middle of the park, Chelsea look flat after conceding the second goal.
Let's see if Pochettino can galvanise those players at half-time.
Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
45. There will be SIX minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
Nicolas Jackson taps Ezri Konsa on the back and the Villa defender throws himself on the floor to stop the striker going through on goal.
GOALLLLLL! Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
42. MORGAN ROGERS DOUBLES VILLA'S LEAD!
He scores against Chelsea for the second time this season, and for the third successive home game, against the run of play it must be said!
The ball bounces around on the edge of the box, with the Chelsea defence in chaos. It falls to Rogers on the edge of the box, and he cuts inside and hits it into the bottom left corner.
Great finish!
![Morgan Rogers scores his third successive Villa Park goal](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 960 640"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Morgan Rogers scores his third successive Villa Park goalCredit: Getty Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
41. Chelsea have a free-kick on the left-hand side after a great touch by Mykhailo Mudryk.
Cole Palmer whips it in but it is cleared with ease by Villa.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
40. They may not have scored, but Chelsea have been promising since conceding early on in this one.
They have dominated possession and at times created brilliant chances when they break through Aston Villa's high line.
It's been a matter of inches between this being 1-0 to Villa and 2-1 to Chelsea.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
38. Great feet from Mykhailo Mudryk on the edge of the box sees a Villa defender sent for a hot dog.
But he then fires a shot almost out for a throw.
Oh Mudryk...
OFF THE POST! Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
35. So close from Nicolas Jackson again!
It was great football from Chelsea too!
Mykhailo Mudryk breaks through the Aston Villa defence and the ball works it's way out to Marc Cucurella, who puts a great ball into the middle for Nicolas Jackson.
The Senegalese striker leaps and heads it own into the ground well, but it strikes the post and bounces out!
So unfortunate for Jackson again...
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
32. Poor from Chelsea in possession, who give it away cheaply in midfield.
Leon Bailey is dangerous down the right hand side again, and Benoit Badiashile fouls him for a free kick in a decent area.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
30. Good feet from Cole Palmer, who finds himself an inch of space and lashes a shot on his left foot.
It's blocked by the Villa defence once again, who are tough to break down on the edge of their own box for Chelsea.
Great tenacity in the attacking third from Moises Caicedo sees him win the ball and look for Nicolas Jackson, but the pass is just in front of the striker.
Injury! Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
27. It's an early change for Aston Villa, who are forced into taking off Youri Tielemans who looks to be suffering with pain in his groin.
Moussa Diaby is the man who will replace him, and he won Aston Villa's player of the month for March.
John McGinn will likely drop into a deeper role now.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
25. Another effort from range for Chelsea, this time from Caicedo.
It's a low, driven effort following good work by Noni Madueke, but straight into the grateful gloves of Emi Martinez.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
23. Audacious effort on the half-volley from Cole Palmer who is arriving in space, but he smashes it over the bar to a huge jeer from the Aston Villa fans behind the goal.
Chelsea continue to hold the ball, but to no avail thus far.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
21. Youri Tielemans goes down under the challenge of Conor Gallagher, and Villa have a free-kick in their own half.
Chelsea are still dominating possession, but we will see if they can put together more goal scoring chances against this Villa high line.
VAR: NO GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
18. So unfortunate for Nicolas Jackson, who just can't seem to catch a break right now.
Aston Villa defenders celebrate as their high line works to a tee.
The scoreline stays at 1-0.
GOALLLLLL! Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea
16. NICOLAS JACKSON LEVELS THE SCORING!
What a finish that is!
Moises Caicedo plays a ball over the top of Aston Villa's high line, and Nicolas Jackson holds off the Villa defender before finishing with the outside of his boot into the top right corner, great finish!
Game on!
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
15. Chance for Aston Villa!
It's an electric break from Ollie Watkins, who bursts down the left hand side and picks out McGinn - Watkins gets it back and fires a shot, but it is into Petrovic's hands.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
14. Chelsea are holding a bit of possession here.
Trying to keep calm rather than face chaos after conceding early.
Mudryk and Jackson try and work a one-two, but it ends as just a one-
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
12. A spell of possession here for Chelsea, and Palmer plays a one-two with Jackson before being dispossessed.
Caicedo finds himself on the right-hand side and puts a good cross into the middle, but no one is there to meet it.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
10. Villa have a deep free-kick and it is whipped into the back post.
McGinn is up early to meet it, but it's offside.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
7. Brilliant work again from Leon Bailey on the right-hand side, who is giving Marc Cucurella a torrid time!
Again Villa work it out to the left and the chance falls for Lucas Digne, but his volley is struck into the side netting.