Watch Chelsea FC – Norttingham Forest – Played on 09/02/2023
In a surprising turn of events, Nottingham Forest clinched a crucial victory against Chelsea, securing a clean goal in the fourth round of the English Premier League. This unexpected outcome left Chelsea with only 4 points, languishing in eleventh place, while Nottingham rose to the ninth spot with 6 points.
Tactical Approaches
Chelsea’s Strategy: Chelsea’s coach, Mauricio Pochettino, opted for a 3-5-2 formation with the experienced Thiago Silva leading the defense alongside Axel Disasi and Leif Colwell. On the flanks were Malo Justo and Ben Chilwell, while Moise Caicedo played a pivotal role. Enzo Fernandez and Connor Gallagher operated in midfield, supporting the attacking duo of Raheem Sterling and Nicholas Jackson.
Nottingham Forest’s Approach: Nottingham Forest’s coach, Steve Cooper, employed a 3-4-2-1 playing style. The defensive trio consisted of Willie Boly, Joe Worrall, and Scott McKenna, with Serge Aurier and Ola Aina as full-backs. In midfield, Oriel Mangala and Danilo provided stability, while Ryan Yates and Morgan Gibbs-White supported striker Taiwo Awonyi.
Match Highlights
The game kicked off with an early chance in the second minute when Chilwell delivered a low cross, and Sterling’s attempt to capitalize was thwarted by Aina. Sterling later set up Gallagher, who fired a shot over the bar. A free kick awarded to Nottingham resulted in a close call as Owoniyi‘s header narrowly missed the target.
Owoniyi continued to trouble Chelsea, with a shot that went wide in the 32nd minute. Gallagher’s cross was cleared by Nottingham’s defense, and Fernandes fired a powerful shot over the goal.
The Turning Point
The turning point of the match occurred in the 48th minute. Awonyi capitalized on a misunderstanding between Caicedo and Gallagher, making a crucial pass to substitute Anthony Elanga, who slotted the ball into the lower right corner.
Chelsea’s Struggles
Despite Chelsea’s efforts, they struggled to create significant goal-scoring opportunities. Manager Pochettino made tactical substitutions, bringing in Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke for Gallagher and Chilwell, but they couldn’t break through.
Late Drama
In the dying minutes of the match, Chelsea pressed aggressively, with Jackson missing a golden opportunity in front of an open goal. Silva’s attempt from a free kick was blocked by Nottingham’s goalkeeper Matt Turner in the 86th minute.
In stoppage time, Chelsea’s last-ditch efforts saw Jackson return the ball to Sterling, whose shot narrowly missed the target on the right side, near the post.
This surprising loss for Chelsea and Nottingham Forest’s resilient performance made for an exciting match that will surely be remembered in this Premier League season.
