Chelsea fight back to draw 2-2 with Hull
Chelsea drew 2-2 with Hull City at home on 12 September 2026 after João Pedro struck a second-half equaliser to spare Xabi Alonso's side defeat. The Guardian
It was a fast start and a cold shock. Morgan Rogers gave Chelsea the lead in the seventh minute from a João Pedro pass. Hull did not blink.
Mohamed Belloumi scored twice in the first half to turn the game. His goals came in the 28th and 34th minutes and sent the visitors in 2-1 up at the break. João Pedro then levelled after half-time to earn a point.
Hull arrived with a previously spotless defensive record, and João Pedro's goal ended it. Konstantinos Tzolakis was in goal for Hull, with Emi Martinez at the other end for Chelsea.
Alonso changed shape for this one. Chelsea moved from a back three, three central defenders, to a 4-2-3-1, four defenders with two holding midfielders behind three attackers and a striker, after leaving out Maxence Lacroix in central defence. It was also the first time Chelsea had dominated possession in a league game that season.
Alonso acted at half-time too. He replaced Jorrel Hato with Pep Chavarria as Chelsea chased the game.
The problems at the back remain. Chelsea were conceding at a rate of two goals per game at the time of the Hull match. The draw stretched their winless run in home games against promoted sides to five.
Hull, managed by Sergej Jakirovic, continue to be hard to beat. They had drawn 0-0 with Aston Villa at the MKM Stadium and remained unbeaten after that game, a result that gave Villa their first point of the season. Premier League
Chelsea's attack is still firing. They had scored 16 goals in five matches under Alonso. Chelsea FC They also became the first team in Premier League history to score in the opening five minutes of their first three games of a season. Chelsea FC
What makes this stand out is the contrast. Chelsea score freely and start quickly, yet they keep giving teams a way back. For Hull, a point in London after going behind early is the kind of memory that travels home with the away end.
