Sloppy Chelsea concedes late for 3-3 draw with Southampton

Southampton scored a stopp-time equalizer to rescue a 3-3 draw at Chelsea in Premier League on Saturday, highlighting how home team's defensive vulnerability remains despite its offseason spending spree.

Jannik Vestergaard glanced in a speculative shot from deadline-day signing o Walcott in second minute of added-on time as Southampton rallied for a second time, having fallen 2-0 behind to Timo Werner's first goals in league.

Chelsea, which has already drawn two matches 3-3, missed experience of one of its new recruits — center back Thiago Silva, who was missing as he recovered from international duty with Brazil — and also could have done with recent signing Edouard Mendy in team.

With Mendy injured on international duty with Senegal, error-prone goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga filled in and made a bad mistake which allowed Southampton to make it 2-2.

Vindicating his nickname of “Turbo Timo," Werner got in behind Southampton's defensive high line two times in first half before producing composed finishes to open his account in league five games into campaign following his offseason move from Leipzig.

He dummied ball and span his marker to latch onto Ben Chilwell's pass before cutting in and scoring opener in 15th. n he ran onto Jorginho's long pass forward, chipped ball over advancing goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, and dded into an empty net in 28th.

Danny Ings pulled a goal back for Southampton just before halftime, and Che Adams took advant of dreadful defending by Chelsea to equalize in 57th minute. First, Kurt Zouma's backpass was underhit, n Kepa made matters worse by completely missing ball under pressure from Adams and n hooking it back into danger in six-yard box after ball came back off post.

Kai Havertz reclaimed lead for Chelsea within three minutes by tapping into an unguarded net after Werner was played in down right — again exploiting Southampton's high line — and crossed low for his Germany teammate to finish.

Vestergaard struck late, though, to deny Chelsea a third win so far.

It was a first look at Chelsea's new attack — Werner started as central striker, Havertz was deployed just behind him, while wingers Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech made appearances after injuries — and re will be justifiable excitement among club's fans following its offseason spending spree of approaching $300 million.

Chelsea, after all, has scored 13 goals in five league games. And Werner is w up and running, although he had already scored in English League Cup this season.

Still, defense remains a big issue and looks to be biggest barrier to a concerted title challenge.

Im credits: Twitter