Chelsea FC were certainly much more lucky than good in their controversial, come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Cardiff City today. At least a couple, perhaps even three or four, calls went against the hosts and may prove to ultimately doom them in the fight to stave off relegation.
Had Cardiff won, as they deserved, it would have moved them just two points behind Burnley for the final safety spot. In addition to the impact on the drop zone, this result also had massive implications for the top four race.
Chelsea began the day in sixth, and even after the win, they’re still sixth, but taking zero points from this contest, or even one for that matter, would have placed in them in a very deep hole that would have been very difficult to climb out of.
Here’s how it all went down. Victor Camarasa scored for the hosts in the 46′, and the Welsh side went up 1-0 until Cesar Azpilicueta’s equalizer in the 84′. The goal should not have stood, as it was clearly an offsides, as you can see below:
How many more teams have to be robbed before VAR is introduced or they even hire officials that are not blind?
Massive decision in Cardiff's season, if that happens to one of the big teams there would be uproar, this will probably get a 30 second segment on MOTD#CARCHE pic.twitter.com/JMTRWGOKan
— Welsh Fan Zone TV ??????? (@WelshFanZoneTV) March 31, 2019
That goal will not stand when VAR is in effect, and it’s really sad that it stood today, as it led to a series of events that may eventually cost Cardiff City football approximately £75 million. Later, Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger was shown a yellow card after taking down Kenneth Zohore in a last man tackle that seemed like it should have been red, and resulted in a red card.
All the while, Chelsea fans were calling for Maurizio Sarri’s head.
It was a clear denial of a goal scoring opportunity, and with it a result that bailed out the big club and shafted the small one.
Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock is infamous for often getting animated with the officials when he takes issue with their calls, but he showed a lot of restraint today.
Full time Cardiff 1-2 Chelsea
Fair play to the Chelsea man of the match Craig Pawson… had a stormer ? pic.twitter.com/wXtEqiE6CS
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) March 31, 2019
As the referees were coming off the pitch, Warnock walked out to midfield and clapped them off. Yes, it was a sarcastic clap to be sure, but you got to give Warnock credit for not exploding, given the situation and the ramifications around it.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.