In one of the most dramatic conclusions to a Premier League match this season, Enzo Fernandez delivered a crushing blow to Manchester City’s title aspirations with a 94th-minute equalizer that secured a 1-1 draw for Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Argentine midfielder’s late intervention left numerous City players on their knees in despair, as what seemed like a routine victory slipped through their fingers in the dying seconds. The result leaves Pep Guardiola’s side six points behind league leaders Arsenal, while Chelsea—playing under caretaker manager Calum McFarlane following Enzo Maresca’s departure—showed remarkable resilience to claim a valuable point.
Manchester City dominated much of the first half, with the returning Rodri quickly demonstrating why he was crowned the world’s best player before his cruciate knee ligament injury in September 2024. The Spaniard’s presence in midfield provided the stability City had sorely missed during his four-month absence.
Despite their control, City’s wasteful finishing nearly proved costly. Phil Foden fired just wide, Bernardo Silva curled over the bar, and Erling Haaland saw his curling effort crash off the inside of the post. Filip Jorgensen, making his first Premier League start of the season in Chelsea’s goal, produced a brilliant save to deny Haaland’s deflected shot.
City’s persistence finally paid off three minutes before halftime when Tijjani Reijnders “wriggled clear inside the box before blasting a powerful shot past Jorgensen at his near post.” The lead seemed deserved, but the second half would tell a different story.
Disaster struck for City as they lost both central defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to injury. Chelsea immediately exploited the defensive disruption, with Pedro Neto somehow spooning over from point-blank range just seconds after the restart. The visitors targeted Gvardiol’s replacement Abdukodir Khusanov relentlessly, sensing vulnerability in City’s reshuffled backline.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, in City’s goal, kept his side ahead with several crucial saves, including one from Liam Delap at a narrow angle. But the Italian couldn’t prevent the inevitable as the match entered its final moments.
In the 94th minute, Donnarumma produced “a remarkable stop from Fernandez, but the Argentine got to the rebound first to tap in.” The Etihad fell silent as Chelsea’s players celebrated wildly, knowing they had dealt a potentially fatal blow to City’s title challenge.
For Chelsea, the point represents more than just a creditable result. Having won just once in their last eight league games and sitting fifth in the table, this spirited performance under caretaker management suggests the squad’s character remains intact despite recent struggles. They now sit within three points of the top four, keeping their Champions League qualification hopes alive.
For Manchester City, the dropped points could prove decisive in the title race. While they edge above Aston Villa on goal difference to reclaim second place, the six-point gap to Arsenal looks increasingly insurmountable, especially given their injury crisis at the back.
As numerous City players remained prostrate on the pitch after the final whistle, the reality set in: Arsenal are closing in on their first league title for 22 years, and this late heartbreak at home to managerless Chelsea may be remembered as the moment their defense truly faltered.