Aston Villa came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Villa Park, with Marco Asensio netting a second-half brace, both goals assisted by Marcus Rashford.
Chelsea took the lead early on when an unmarked Enzo Fernandez (9) tapped in a cross from Pedro Neto, putting the visitors ahead. However, the game shifted dramatically after Marcus Rashford was introduced at halftime. Replacing Jacob Ramsey, Rashford wasted no time making an impact. In the 57th minute, his outstretched leg played a perfect ball across to Asensio, who calmly slotted home to level the score.
With the momentum now firmly in their favor, Villa pushed for the winner, and once again, it was Rashford and Asensio who combined in the dying moments of the match. In the 89th minute, Rashford delivered a precise pass to Asensio, whose shot squeezed past Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and into the net.
Both Rashford and Asensio joined Villa on loan during the January transfer window, and their growing understanding within Unai Emery’s system is becoming evident. Their contributions on the night propelled Villa to within a point of Chelsea in sixth place, while Chelsea’s defeat meant they missed a golden opportunity to break into the top four.
