Chelsea suffered a 2–1 loss to Sunderland on Saturday afternoon in a Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge.
Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring for Chelsea in the fourth minute, sprinting down the left flank before firing past Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs. The visitors, however, levelled the match in the 22nd minute through Wilson Isidor, who converted after a long throw into the box.
Both sides created chances in the second half, but Sunderland stunned the home crowd in stoppage time when Chemsdine Talbi met Brian Brobbey’s lay-off to seal a dramatic late winner in the 93rd minute.
The defeat ended Chelsea’s positive run of form, which had included victories over Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, and Ajax.
Nineteen-year-old defender Josh Acheampong, who earned his fourth Premier League start, showed maturity despite being partly at fault for Sunderland’s equaliser. He later made a crucial tackle to stop Isidor from scoring again before being substituted late in the game.
Garnacho, who joined Chelsea from Manchester United in August, marked his first goal for the club with a throwback celebration, sitting on the advertising board in front of the visiting fans. His celebration mirrored the one he shared with former teammates Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo during his time at United, followed by a gesture pointing to his Chelsea badge to affirm his loyalty.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to address the team’s performance in his post-match press conference.
The Blues will next face Wolves in the Carabao Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, October 29, before travelling to play Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday, November 1.