Chelsea star sent off after full-time vs Brentford as tempers flare in Premier League win
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella was sent off after the full-time whistle against Brentford. His side won 2-1 after a nervy finish at Stamford Bridge.
Cucurella, who scored the opening goal of the match with his first-half header, was dismissed for a second yellow card after a skirmish between both sets of players in the seconds following. He will now miss Chelsea's trip to Everton next weekend.
A win at Goodison Park could see Chelsea go top of the Premier League, albeit briefly, with Liverpool set to face Tottenham later on Sunday. Arne Slot's side also have a game in hand with the current gap to the top at two points.
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This will be Cucurella's second ban of the season after he also missed the away defeat to Liverpool due to picking up five yellow cards before the halfway stage. The Premier League's Match Centre account confirmed the decision online: "The referee issued a second yellow card to Cucurella for adopting an aggressive attitude," it explained. "[Kevin] Schade was also booked for the same offence."
The full-back had only been shown his first yellow card moments earlier after jumping into a strong tackle as Chelsea sought to see out the game. Bryan Mbeumo's late finish made matters a lot tighter than they might have been in stoppage time after Nicolas Jackson had doubled the lead with 10 minutes left.
Chelsea had worked their way into a strong position and lead at the break thanks to Cucurella's second-ever goal for the club. Jackson and Jadon Sancho then missed good opportunities to put the game beyond Brentford before the match was seemingly won.
Despite a brief fightback at 1-0 down, which saw Brentford hit the bar and force Robert Sanchez into an excellent close-range shot, Chelsea generated a buffer between them and their hosts. Mbeumo capitalised on a Tosin Adarabioyo mistake in the 90th minute as Brentford got a goal back to make for a close finish.
Chelsea held out in the end but both sets of players were left ruffled after a series of free kicks and fouls were given by referee Peter Bankes. Schade and Vitaly Janelt were among the most animated Brentford players in the final stages.