In an intense battle at the City Ground, Chelsea emerged victorious with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. The visitors got off to a flying start as Mykhaylo Mudryk found the back of the net in the 8th minute, courtesy of an assist from Cole Palmer. However, Forest quickly responded, with Wily Boly heading home a cross from Morgan Gibbs-White to level the score in the 16th minute.
The game took another twist when Callum Hudson-Odoi, marking his 100th Premier League appearance, struck a superb goal against his former club to give Forest a 2-1 lead in the 74th minute. However, Chelsea rallied back, with Raheem Sterling curling in an equalizer in the 80th minute to set the stage for a thrilling finale.
In the dying minutes of the match, long-term absentee Reece James made his presence felt by assisting Nicolas Jackson, who found the back of the net in the 82nd minute to complete Chelsea’s comeback and secure all three points.
Nigeria’s Ola Aina had a strong performance for the hosts, with the wing back playing the full game. The defender made 2 interceptions, 4 clearances, also made successful tackles and even had a flurry up front with 2 goal attempts, albeit none on target.
With this crucial victory, Chelsea strengthened their bid for European football next season, currently sitting 7th on the league table with 57 points. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest finds themselves in a precarious position, just three points above the relegation battle with 29 points. They will look to secure their safety in their final game of the season against Burnley.