Nkunku scores late winner for Chelsea after Sanchez penalty save

Christopher Nkunku came off the bench to score and secure Chelsea a 1-0 win at Bournemouth – a result which looked unlikely for most of the chaotic, card-heavy match.

Nkunku was on the pitch for fewer than seven minutes when he struck late on, expertly turning away from three defenders to prod home, having been set up by fellow impressive substitute Jadon Sancho.

Bournemouth finished the game with 19 shots taken and twice struck the woodwork, most memorably Marcus Tavernier rattling the crossbar after just four minutes, but could not find a breakthrough.

Evanilson had their best chance, a penalty he won himself, but Robert Sanchez brilliantly denied the hosts’ record signing.

For giving away the penalty, Sanchez was one of a Premier League-record 14 recipients of a yellow card.

The clean sheet is Chelsea’s first in 18 away Premier League games and they climb to seventh on seven points, leapfrogging The Cherries. Bournemouth are 11th, two points worse off.

Given the squad turnover at Chelsea and appointment of a new manager, it’s understandable that it may take time for the team to gel. Illness and injuries provided further mitigating circumstances for this game. Yet this doesn’t mean slow progress will be tolerated and the display offered few signs of progress, until the second half.

Sancho was one such sign. Far busier than Pedro Neto who he replaced at the break, Sancho gave Chelsea more spark and used the ball well. On this evidence, his signing – scoffed at by many – makes sense. Renato Veiga grew into the game on his first Premier League start and Nkunku, perhaps a forgotten man given how many players Chelsea have added since his signing, proved decisive.

Overall through, many questions remain. The clean sheet was freaky, given the chances Bournemouth had, and Chelsea rarely if ever felt in control of the game. Not much about this win feels sustainable and only time will tell if Enzo Maresca can use the result as a building block.

Chelsea were a lot better for his introduction and almost all of the chances they created in the second half, including the goal, came through Sancho. On a Cole Palmer off day, Sancho stood tall.

Bournemouth: Travers 6, Smith 6, Zabarnyi 7, Senesi 6, Kerkez 7, Cook 7, Christie 7, Kluivert 6, Tavernier 7, Semenyo 6, Evanilson 5. Subs: Sinisterra 5, Scott 5, Araujo 6, Billing 6, Unal n/a.

Chelsea: Sanchez 7, Disasi 5, Fofana 5, Colwill 7, Cucurella 7, Veiga 7, Caicedo 6, Madueke 5, Palmer 6, Neto 5, Jackson 5. Subs: Sancho 7, Adarabioyo 6, Felix 5, Nkunku 7.

OFF THE BAR! 4′ – Cook collects a loose ball and passes to Tavernier. In space, he cuts inside and rifles a 30-yard shot off the crossbar – so close to a fantastic goal, out of nothing.

SAVE! – 23′ A mix-up between Disasi and Fofana gifts Tavernier an opening. He crosses, Evanilson lays it off and Kluivert shoots – hard and into the ground – but Sanchez is equal to it.

PENALTY TO BOURNEMOUTH! 37′ – Fofana underhits a backpass, Evanilson gets there first and chips the goalkeeper Sanchez who in an effort to block the ball takes him out. Clear penalty.

PENALTY SAVED! 38′ – Sanchez dives to his left and brilliantly saves Evanilson’s penalty!

OFF THE POST! 58′ – A nice Bournemouth move culminates in Semenyo cutting the ball back for Christie at the top of the box and his side-footed effort is deflected onto the post.

GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 CHELSEA (NKUNKU) 85′ – Chelsea look to have stolen it! Sancho finds Nkunku in the Bournemouth box. He turns, gliding past three Bournemouth players in the process, then prods home.