BURNLEY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Robbie Brady of Burnley celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Chelsea at Turf Moor on February 12, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Chelsea missed the opportunity to move 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League after Burnley’s Robbie Brady scored a fantastic free-kick midway through the first half to secure a 1-1 home tie against the Blues on Sunday.
Burnley had won all four of their previous home games without conceding, but fell behind just seven minutes in on Sunday, when Pedro scored off a sweeping attack.
Chelsea dominated possession and seemed poised to score again after that strike, but Brady evened it up in the 24th minute by curling his shot into the top-left corner of the Chelsea goal.
The 25-year-old Irish winger– Burnley’s record signing– was making his full debut following his move from Norwich in January.
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The hosts nearly got ahead just before halftime, but Chelsea’s 24-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a great save to deny Matt Lowton from close range. Brady’s score marked the first time Courtois allowed a free-kick goal in a Premier League game. The kick was awarded after Nemanja Matic fouled Joey Barton 25 yards from goal.
Chelsea did not record a single shot on target in the second half as Burnley relied heavily on their Premier League scoring leaders. Andre Gray fired a low drive when he was through one-on-one, but was also denied by Courtois.
With 60 points, Chelsea remain atop the Premier League table, a comfortable 10 points ahead of both second-place Tottenham and third-place Arsenal. Burnley (30 points), meanwhile, move up a spot to 12th.
Some uncharacteristically lackluster Chelsea defending led to a Burnley scoring chance early in the second half.
Gary Cahill– who made his 150th league appearance for Chelsea–was beaten to Matic’s poor header by Ashely Barnes before David Luiz failed to cut out his weak pass, but Gray shot softly to let Courtois make the save after he found himself on the one-on-one.
The game marked Burnley’s first tie of the season.
Burnley next host Lincoln City in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, and then visit Hull City for their next Premier League match on Feb. 25.
Chelsea visit Wolves in their fifth-round FA Cup game on Saturday, then host Swansea City in the Premier League on Feb. 25.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 12: Robbie Brady of Burnley celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Chelsea at Turf Moor on February 12, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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