Jahanbakhsh nets overhead kick as Brighton holds Chelsea 1-1
BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s acrobatic overhead kick gave Brighton a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League on New Year’s Day.
The Iran striker’s bicycle kick in the 84th minute punished Frank Lampard’s wasteful Chelsea, which relied on goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s late save against Neal Maupay to avoid losing.
Jahanbakhsh started 2020 in style after only breaking a 20-match league goal drought in the 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
The goal on Wednesday canceled out the tap-in from Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta in the 10th minute.
Christian Pulisic will look at three wasted openings that ultimately stopped Chelsea cementing their dominance, denying the fourth-place side another away victory after Sunday’s 2-1 win at Arsenal.
The American dragged a shot wide from a well-worked and promising position.
The forward had tormented Martin Montoya throughout the first half and outfoxed him twice in quick succession after the break, but he failed to find the target on both occasions.