Football results Chelsea – Aston Villa
1. Pre-Match Changes and Lineup Adjustments
The FA Cup 4th round clash between Chelsea – Aston Villa saw both teams field nearly their strongest available lineups. However, Chelsea had to make a last-minute adjustment, replacing Levi Colwill with Alfie Gilchrist after Colwill experienced discomfort during the warm-up. Aston Villa, meanwhile, stuck to their planned formation, prepared to challenge Chelsea from the outset.
2. Early Drama and VAR Intervention
Aston Villa seemed on the verge of an early celebration in the 12th minute. After John McGinn’s free kick was skillfully saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Petrovic, the visitors earned a corner. Diaby’s deflected shot landed at Douglas Luiz’s feet, and he found the back of the net. However, VAR stepped in and ruled the goal out, as Luiz had made an illegal touch, keeping the score level.
3. Missed Chances and Defensive Errors
Both teams created numerous opportunities but failed to capitalize on defensive mistakes. Seven minutes after Aston Villa’s disallowed goal, Lenglet’s misplaced pass gave Chelsea’s Palmer a clear chance, but Emiliano Martinez made a critical save. Later, Aston Villa nearly scored an own goal under pressure, but Martinez’s heroics kept them safe. The first half ended with both sides squandering close-range opportunities, leaving the match scoreless at halftime.
4. Second Half Tension and Close Calls
The second half followed the same pattern, with Aston Villa gifting Chelsea chances, but the Blues couldn’t capitalize. In the 73rd minute, Watkins tested Chelsea’s defense with a shot that was blocked by Petrovic, and just moments later, Matty Cash’s attempt was also denied by the alert Serbian goalkeeper. The tension remained high, with both goalkeepers facing moments of danger. Ultimately, neither team could break the deadlock, leading to a 0-0 draw.
5. Final Whistle and Replay at Villa Park
The match remained scoreless as both teams continued to miss critical opportunities in the closing minutes. Aston Villa’s Kamara made a poor backpass that Martinez managed to clear just in time, while Petrovic also made a crucial save after a messy clearance. With a 0-0 draw, the two teams will meet again for a replay at Villa Park, leaving fans eager to see who will come out on top.
Match score: Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
Starting lineup: Chelsea: Petrovic, Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Gilchrist, Caicedo, Gallagher, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Sterling.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Moreno, McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Tielemans, Diaby, Watkins.
