Chelsea’s in form forward Joao Pedro netted a crucial second half leveller as the hosts salvaged a draw against newly promoted Hull City on Sunday.
The reigning Premier League Player of the Month bent a brilliant finish into the top corner in the 66th minute, though Chelsea could not find a way through for all three points.
Morgan Rogers had put the home side ahead inside seven minutes, only for Hull to turn things around before halftime through a Mohamed Belloumi brace.
Chelsea’s early breakthrough was slower than their recent form suggested, since they had opened the scoring within the first four minutes in each of their previous three top flight fixtures. Rogers, signed from Aston Villa for a club record £117m, danced past Matt Crooks before slotting home with his left foot, ending Hull’s clean sheet run in the competition this term.
Pedro Neto nearly doubled the lead soon after, but Chelsea’s focus slipped when Jorrel Hato failed to track Belloumi, who volleyed home Ryan Giles’ cross in the 28th minute.
Momentum shifted toward the visitors as Lewie Coyle tested the keeper and Semi Ajayi crashed a header against the bar. Oli McBurnie pounced on the rebound, setting up Belloumi for a deflected effort that snuck past Emi Martinez for his second.
Xabi Alonso introduced Pep Chavarria at the break, yet Chelsea struggled to unlock Hull’s defense until Cole Palmer’s low delivery found Pedro, who finished sharply past goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Both sides pushed for a winner late on, with Rogers and substitute Mohamed Ali Cho going close, but neither could find a breakthrough.
The result leaves Hull third and Chelsea fourth, with the Blues still holding a game in hand over much of the division.
