Furious Noni Madueke has to be DRAGGED away by his Chelsea coaches and team-mates as he confronts referee Craig Pawson after VAR controversially rules out late winner in 2-2 thriller
Noni Madueke had to be dragged away from referee Craig Pawson after Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
Madueke and his team-mates thought they had secured a 96th-minute winner when Axel Disasi headed home from close range to make it 3-2 in their favour.
However, the goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR check that saw Pawson consult the pitch-side monitor.
Pawson ruled the goal out after claiming Benoit Badiashile had shoved Diego Carlos in the back in the build-up to the goal.
Madueke was furious with the decision and wanted to make his feelings known after the final whistle at Villa Park.
Noni Madueke had to be dragged away by his teammates after Chelsea’s draw with Aston Villa
The forward was angry that the Blues were denied a winner when VAR ruled out goal
Axel Disasi thought he’d won the game for Chelsea but the goal was ruled out by VAR
Madueke stormed straight up to Pawson and began shouting in his face before being restrained by Chelsea coach Jesus Perez.
Madueke could be heard saying ‘it’s wrong, you know it’s wrong. You know it. You know it’ while pointing at Pawson.
Disasi, who scored the last-gasp goal, tried to calm Madueke down by grabbing him and walking him away from the situation.
Pawson was less than impressed with Madueke and awarded him a yellow card before speaking to Cole Palmer.
Palmer appeared to plead with Pawson but before being escorted away by Chelsea’s backroom staff.
In the aftermath Madueke was asked about the 96th-minute goal, which he believed should have been given.
He told BBC Sport: ‘Should it have been three points? Yes. Do I think the goal should have stood? Yes. Nothing else to say about the situation.’
Aston Villa had raced into a 2-0 first half lead following a Marc Cucurella own goal inside four minutes and a strike from Morgan Rodgers.
Referee Craig Pawson checks pitch-side monitor and rules out Chelsea’s winning goal
Madueke’s goal had got Chelsea back in the game after they went 2-0 down to Aston Villa
However, Chelsea rallied in the second half and turned the game around, thanks firstly to Madueke and then a Conor Gallagher equaliser.
It was a second half performance that Madueke praised, but admitted they needed to start better in games.
Adding: ‘We need to play better at times in phases of the game. We have an abundance of quality and when we fire we’re a match for any team. The last game was terrible. For 70 minutes today the team were outstanding.’
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