Reece James’ Late Free-Kick Rescues Chelsea in Dramatic Draw

LONDON, England — Chelsea captain Reece James marked his return from injury with a stunning 95th-minute free-kick to secure a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Tuesday. The 25-year-old full-back, who has been sidelined for much of the season due to recurring hamstring injuries, curled a precise shot into the far corner, sparking wild celebrations at Stamford Bridge.

James, who has missed 21 games this season, entered the match as a 56th-minute substitute. His goal came after Chelsea squandered a first-half lead, with Cole Palmer opening the scoring before Bournemouth equalized through a Justin Kluivert penalty and took the lead via Antoine Semenyo‘s strike. James’ late heroics salvaged a crucial point for the Blues, who remain fourth in the league table.

“It was lonely and frustrating,” James told BBC Radio 5 Live about his injury struggles. “I am really happy to be back helping the team.” The England international, who last scored in October 2022, has endured a challenging season, starting just eight Premier League games since being named captain last year.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised James’ composure, saying, “Reece can compare with Cole in terms of free-kicks because he is very good. We decided for Reece, and he scored. We are all happy because at least we took a point.” Former Premier League striker Glenn Murray described the goal as having “pace, power, and a little bit of swerve.”

Despite the draw, Chelsea’s winless streak extended to five league matches. Bournemouth, meanwhile, moved to seventh place with 34 points. The match drew a crowd of 39,092 at Stamford Bridge, where James’ return provided a glimmer of hope for Chelsea’s faltering campaign.