Enzo Fernandez struck in the 94th minute to rescue a 1-1 draw for managerless Chelsea and deliver a significant setback to Manchester City’s Premier League title ambitions at the Etihad Stadium.
Tijjani Reijnders had fired City into a deserved first-half lead. Still, injuries to central defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias in the second half proved costly as the champions dramatically dropped two points.
Fernandez pounced at the back post in stoppage time after City failed to clear their lines.
The result moves City back above Aston Villa into second place on goal difference, but Pep Guardiola’s side remain six points behind league leaders Arsenal.
Chelsea were under the caretaker charge of under-21 coach Calum McFarlane following the club’s decision to part ways with Enzo Maresca on Thursday. Despite having won just once in their last eight league matches, the Blues were rewarded for an improved second-half performance and now sit fifth, three points off the top four.
City welcomed Rodri back into the starting lineup for his first start since October. The Spaniard, who had been sidelined since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in September 2024, quickly demonstrated why he was crowned the world’s best player.
After a sluggish opening, City began to assert control as Phil Foden fired narrowly wide and Bernardo Silva curled just over the bar. Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, making his first Premier League start of the season due to Robert Sanchez’s injury, produced an outstanding save to deny Erling Haaland’s deflected effort.
Haaland came agonisingly close again moments later when his curling strike rebounded off the inside of the post.
City’s pressure finally paid off three minutes before half-time when Reijnders wriggled free inside the penalty area and blasted a powerful shot past Jorgensen at his near post.
However, City almost undid their good work immediately after the restart. An ankle injury to Gvardiol left the hosts temporarily exposed, and Pedro Neto squandered a golden opportunity by firing over from close range.
Chelsea continued to press, targeting Gvardiol’s replacement Abdukodir Khusanov, and City relied on Gianluigi Donnarumma to deny Liam Delap from a tight angle.
In the dying moments, Donnarumma produced a remarkable save to repel Fernandez’s initial effort, but the Argentine reacted quickest to convert the rebound and stun the home crowd.
City players sank to the turf in disbelief at the final whistle as Arsenal edged closer to ending their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
