On Saturday, Chelsea defeated Nottingham Forest by 3-2 in the English Premier League (EPL) after some late goals from Raheem Sterling and Nicholas Jackson allowed the Blues to edge past Tricky Trees in a thrilling contest at Nottingham Forest’s home ground, City Ground.
With this win, the Blues hope to book a spot in the European Championship next season by remaining seventh in the English Premier League (EPL) with 57 points.
Late goals from Sterling and Jackson Helps Chelsea Win
The match started better for the Blues when they got their first goal in the 8th minute from Ukrainian Mykhailo Mudryk, who scored the goal with a shot in the low bottom corner of the hosts’ net after getting a brilliant ball from 22-year-old rising star Cole Palmer, making it 0-1. With this assist, Palmer joins the race for assists in the EPL( English Premier League) with Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa this season with 31.
But Nottingham Forest leveled the scoreboard in the 16th minute when they scored with a brilliant header from a free-kick, giving the visitor’s goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović no chance to save the shot as it ended in a low corner of the visitors’ nets, making it 1-1.
In the second half, a bolt of lightning struck the Blues when former Chelsea winger Callum Hudson Odoi scored the second goal for the Tricky Trees in the 74th minute with a great curling shot that ended in the right-low bottom of the visitors’ net, making it 2-1.
But the former Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling leveled the score for the Blues in the 80th minute by scoring in the same way as Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson Odoi, making it 2-2. But fate had another result for the Tricky Trees, as Chelsea’s Senegalese forward Nicholas Jackson scored the winning goal for the Blues, making it 3–2 after getting a dazzling cross from the English right-back and the Blues skipper Reece James.
With this defeat, Nottingham Forests remain at the 17th position of the English Premier League(EPL) with 29 points.
Chelsea Eyes the Spot for the European Championships
With three wins in a row, the Blues, who have been in hot form in the final third of the season, look to book a spot in the race to play in the European Championships next season if they win all their next three matches.
After all the investments, transfers, and manager changes in the past few years, Chelsea looks finally comfortable under the leadership and guidance of 52-year-old Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, who is finally leading the Blues back to the European Championship after a long absence due to their terrible performances in recent years. They are only a few points away from Newcastle United, who are in the 6th position of the English Premier League (EPL) with 22 points on goal difference.
Mauricio Pochettino stated after the game that ‘The best thing is the way that we always believe until the end, football is about fighting. It was important for the team to finish the season strong, with the hope to start next season really well.’
Which European Championships they will play depends on how they perform in their last two crucial games of the season: the away match against Brighton Hove and Albion on Wednesday and the home game against Bournemouth next Sunday. So, all they need now is complete focus and a good mentality if they want to play in the European Championships next season.
Palmer was Annouced as the Player of the Match
The 22-year-old rising English winger Cole Palmer was a complete menace for Nottingham Forests, whether from behind or the top left of the wing, and he also provided an assist for the Blues opening goal by Mudryk. Due to his best performances in recent matches, he is certainly voted Young Player of the Year.
The former Manchester City winger is likely set to feature for Gareth Southgate’s England team in the upcoming Euro 2024 in Germany.
