Chelsea Move Into Top 4 After Draw With Burnley
LONDON (AP) - Chelsea have moved into the Premier League's top four with a frustrating 2-2 draw with Burnley.
Goals two minutes apart from N'Golo Kante and Gonzalo Higuain put Chelsea on top at Stamford Bridge after Jeff Hendrick had given Burnley an early lead.
But Ashley Barnes pulled the visitors even in the 24th minute and Chelsea was unable to get the winner despite dominating possession and finishing with 22 shots.
Chelsea climbed into the final Champions League qualifying spot, one point above fifth-place Arsenal and three ahead of Manchester United, but have played one game more.
Along with the disappointment of dropping points, the Blues were also left frustrated by what they felt was time wasting on Burnley's part.
"We wanted to win. They didn't want to lose," assistant coach Gianfranco Zola said. "There was too much time wasting. We couldn't build important rhythm."
Chelsea also have injury concerns after Kante left the game with a rib problem and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi was forced off by what he later said on social media was a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Burnley, meanwhile, all but guaranteed its Premier League status for another season.
**********Chelsea's Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain (2nd right) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge in London on April 22, 2019.
Goals two minutes apart from N'Golo Kante and Gonzalo Higuain put Chelsea on top at Stamford Bridge after Jeff Hendrick had given Burnley an early lead.
But Ashley Barnes pulled the visitors even in the 24th minute and Chelsea was unable to get the winner despite dominating possession and finishing with 22 shots.
Chelsea climbed into the final Champions League qualifying spot, one point above fifth-place Arsenal and three ahead of Manchester United, but have played one game more.
Along with the disappointment of dropping points, the Blues were also left frustrated by what they felt was time wasting on Burnley's part.
"We wanted to win. They didn't want to lose," assistant coach Gianfranco Zola said. "There was too much time wasting. We couldn't build important rhythm."
Chelsea also have injury concerns after Kante left the game with a rib problem and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi was forced off by what he later said on social media was a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Burnley, meanwhile, all but guaranteed its Premier League status for another season.
**********Chelsea's Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain (2nd right) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge in London on April 22, 2019.