Marc Cucurella had a rollercoaster evening during Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Brentford on Sunday, culminating in a controversial red card after the final whistle.
The full-back initially enjoyed a memorable moment, breaking the deadlock with a 43rd-minute goal.
Nicolas Jackson doubled Chelsea’s lead, but Bryan Mbeumo pulled one back in the dying minutes for Brentford. However, the drama didn’t end there.
During injury time, Cucurella received his first yellow card for a foul on Fabio Carvalho. Tensions flared further after the final whistle, with Cucurella clashing with Brentford’s Kevin Schade.
A heated exchange led to Cucurella shoving Schade, prompting intervention from the assistant referee. Referee Peter Bankes, unimpressed by Cucurella’s conduct, issued a second yellow card, resulting in a red.
Despite the chaotic ending, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca took solace in the team’s performance. The victory brought Chelsea within two points of league leaders Liverpool, though Liverpool still holds a game in hand.
Striker Nicolas Jackson reflected on the match positively, acknowledging the team’s hard-fought win against a challenging opponent.
“They’re tough to play against, especially with their set-pieces. But we followed the manager’s plan and got the result,” said Jackson, who now boasts nine Premier League goals this season.
Maresca echoed Jackson’s sentiments, praising the team’s overall dominance. “We controlled the game except for the final 10 minutes. We created plenty of chances and deserved the win,” he told BBC Sport.
For Cucurella, the incident may have marred an otherwise productive night, but Chelsea’s upward momentum under Maresca continues as they aim to sustain their title challenge.