Christian Pulisic
photo: IMAGO / ProSports Images

English Recap: Promising Pulisic Start Can’t Cure Chelsea’s Woes

7 minutes, 2 seconds Read

Christian Pulisic was back in the starting line up for Chelsea, as the team blew their chance for a win against Everton at the end, while Daryl Dike marked his return to the USMNT with a goal for West Brom.

Chelsea 2 – 2 Everton

Christian Pulisic continued his return from injury to make his first start in months for struggling Chelsea, playing a convincing 62 minutes for the home team as they were eventually forced to settle for a draw against lowly Everton.

Pulisic put the ball back in the net ten minutes into the second half, but the offside flag had gone up in the build up play, ruling his fine finish incomplete.

Joao Felix got the scoring started in the 52nd minute, but Abdoulaye Doucoure leveled the scoreline in the 69th minute.

Chelsea thought they had won it through a Kai Havertz 76th-minute penalty kick, only for late substitute Ellis Simms to score a last-gasp goal in the 89th minute to save a vital point for Everton.

Chelsea sit in tenth place in the Premier League, though only four points off of sixth placed Liverpool as they try to find any way to make headway on the league’s European qualification places.

Watch the extended highlights here:

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2- 4 Leeds

Brenden Aaronson and Weston McKennie paired up in the starting line up, while Tyler Adams sat out due to injury as Leeds gave their survival chances a boost with a strong road win over Wolves.

The game was one for the history books, with six goals and two red cards being shared between the teams. Jack Harrison scored the opening goal just six minutes in, with a perfect shot from near the penalty spot. Luke Ayling doubled the visitors’ advantage just four minutes into the second half, stooping down to head in Marc Roca’s corner at the back post.

The game seemed to be cruising for Leeds after they scored their third of the night in the 62nd minute through Rasmus Kristensen, but Jonny Otto smashed home a lifeline in the 65th minute.

Cunha clawed a goal back in the 73rd minute, but Otto’s tackle in the 84th minute was overturned from a yellow card to a red card via VAR.

Rodrigo added an insurance goal for Leeds deep into added time, shortly after which Wolves bench player Matheus Nunes was shown a straight red from the bench. McKennie played the whole game while Aaronson came off in the 81st minute.

Up next for Leeds, now 14th, is a trip to League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.

Watch the highlights here:

Manchester United 3 – 1 Fulham

Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson both got the start for Fulham, but both of will be furious with how the day ended in the FA Cup Quarter-Final.

Both defenders had great early moments, Robinson skipping down the left flank to get engaged with the attack, while Ream threaded a ball across the six yard box with no Fulham jerseys near enough to attack it.

Aleksander Mitrovic came up clutch in the 50th minute with a solid goal, and was denied a second a few minutes later by David De Gea with a miraculous diving save. However, the striker went from Here to Zero after a VAR decision went against his side.

Willian was adjudged to deliberately blocking a goal with his hand, resulting in a straight red card. While the referee was at the VAR monitor, Fulham manager Marco Silva came over to the referee, and was shown a red card as well.

To compound issues, Mitrovic began remonstrating with the referee’s decision, ultimately pushing the referee in his protest, and he too was sent off.

The resulting penalty kick from Bruno Fernandes started the rally from behind, equalling the score in the 75th minute. Fulham, now playing with nine men, could only hold United at bay for two more minutes before conceding a soft goal to Marcel Sabitzer for the game winner. In added time, Fernandes scored another goal to see United through to the Semi-Finals.

Fulham turn their attention to Bournemouth, without the three names listed above, on Saturday in the Premier League.

Watch the highlights here:

Cardiff City 1 – 1 West Bromwich Albion

Daryl Dike was on the score sheet ahead of the international break but ultimately denied the three points by a strong Cardiff City stand in the second half.

The American front man continues his emergence into the spotlight with his 17th minute goal that was a volley from a Jed Wallace cross. However, second half substitute Sory Kaba was on hand to head home the equalizer in the 65th minute.

Dike was substituted in the 58th minute and couldn’t help his team secure all three points. West Brom are now in ninth place, five points off of sixth placed Millwall, whom they play on April 1st.

Watch the highlights here:

Queens Park Rangers 0 – 1 Birmingham

Auston Trusty started and went the distance for Birmingham in their narrow home win over Queens Park Rangers.

Manchester United loanee Tahith Chong scored just three minutes into the game from the edge of the six yard box. Trusty was shown a yellow card in the 81st minute. The win keeps Birmingham above QPR and in 17th place, however too close to the Relegation Zone for comfort.

Birmingham play Blackburn on Saturday in the Championship.

Watch the highlights here:

Stoke 0 – 0 Norwich

Josh Sargent started and went the distance for Norwich in their goalless draw against Stoke.

The game could have gone much differently had the American forward tucked away his chance at the edge of the box, but his shot went wide of the target just six minutes in.

Norwich sit just outside of the playoff spots in seventh place, three points behind Millwall in sixth. Their next game is April 1st against Sheffield United.

Watch the highlights here:

Middlesbrough 4 – 0 Preston North End

Zack Steffen was able to keep a clean sheet for the home side while forward Matthew Hoppe did not feature. Matthew Olosunde did not feature for the visitors.

Chuba Akpom got the scoring started in the 22nd minute, while Cameron Archer put the game to rest in the second half with a pair of goals in the 52nd and 58th minute.

If that wasn’t bad enough for Preston, Bambo Diaby was shown his second yellow card in the 88th minute. Marcus Forss added an injury time goal to make it four for the home team.

Boro have risen all of the way to third place, three points outside of automatic promotion places. They face Huddersfield on April 1st, while Preston plays Blackpool at home.

Watch the highlights here:

Sunderland 1 – 1 Luton Town

Ethan Horvath went the distance for Luton Town against Lynden Gooch’s Sunderland, with the home team squeaking a point out of the match.

Alfie Doughty scored in the 51st minute to give the visitors the lead, but second half substitute and on-loan Manchester United player Amad Diallo scored an 86th minute equalizer. Horvath was called to action to snuff out a Luke O’Nien shot on frame.

Gooch came on in the 72nd minute to finish out the game. The point takes Sunderland to 11th place, while Luton stay in the playoff spots in fourth place.

Luton face off against Watford while Sunderland travel to league leaders Burnley on April 1st.

Watch the highlights here:

Notes

Matt Turner was on the bench in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Chris Richards’ Crystal Palace, both watching from the bench.

Duane Holmes did not feature for Huddersfield Town in their 1-0 win over Millwall.

Vaughn Covil did not feature for Hull City in their 1-1 draw away at Reading.

Alex Mighten did not feature for Sheffield Wednesday in their 1-1 draw against Bolton.

Charlie Kelman did not feature for Leyton Orient in their 2-2 draw against Colchester.

author

Andrew Vorce

I do it all! Youth club coach for 15+ years, very retired semi-pro indoor player, journalist for Yanks Abroad, and VP of Operations for the Warrior Soccer Tour. Soccer, soccer, soccer. Avid soccer enthusiast and travel to Europe every summer to take kids to go compete against European youth teams.

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