In the blue corner, Todd Boehly. In the other blue corner, Behdad Eghbali. Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca must continue to win football games. As the Chelsea soap opera takes its latest twist, revealing that this club is not big enough for two billionaire egos, Maresca’s team put in a performance that is often as dysfunctional as the goings-on in the boardroom. And yet Christopher Nkunku’s late strike stole points from the south coast.

Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, a team with as much coaching as energy in the Premier League, had the best chances and played the most progressive football. A match that may be remembered in the future for referee Anthony Taylor’s excessive number of yellow cards – a record 14, plus Maresca – did not go to the Basque team. Instead, the Frenchman shook off the Bournemouth defenders and slotted home from a pass by Jadon Sancho, another substitute and, like Nkunku, someone who still has much to prove.

“We are in a big club with big players,” said the goalscorer. “There is competition for positions. We just have to work hard.”

“The most important thing is that they are ready when they get minutes,” their manager said. The duo’s late combination rescued a team that looked as united as the club should be until late in the game. In the absence of Enzo Fernández and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the rugged, imposing figure of Renato Veiga paired with Moisés Caicedo and the pair struggled as Bournemouth created chances from the start. After Axel Disasi faltered, Evanilson came within a whisker of scoring his first Premier League goal.

It didn’t happen, the Brazilian was later guilty of a weakly taken penalty. “He wants to score, that’s for sure, but I’m not going to focus on that, I’m very happy with his performance,” Iraola said of his club record signing. “We played very well, had more chances, forced them and you have to punish them and we didn’t.”

The latest addition to Chelsea’s luxury roster of erratic attackers, Sancho initially watched from the sidelines as Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto flanked Cole Palmer. Adam Smith versus Neto was a key battleground in the first half, the veteran of Bournemouth’s League One days winning with ease.

While the referee bore the brunt of the Chelsea fans’ discomfort – Taylor has a history with them – its roots lay in their team’s performance. Finally, in the 33rd minute, Mark Travers, coming on for Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was ineligible to play against the parent club who did not want him, was called upon to make a save, but Nicolas Jackson fired straight at the Irish keeper.

Robert Sánchez, Kepa’s replacement, conceded the penalty to Evanilson and then saved from the same player. Taylor had ruled that the keeper had fouled the Brazilian in what looked to be a 50-50 duel after Wesley Fofana’s badly under-clubbed back pass. A half in which Bournemouth could have finished comfortably ahead ended goalless.

Six yellow cards in the first half suggested a bad-tempered match, but were much more the result of Taylor’s meticulousness. “I complained about a foul on Wesley Fofana, which was pretty clear to me, but it can happen,” Maresca said of his part in the wave of yellows.

The break brought Sancho back into the game. “I’m grateful to be playing again,” said the Manchester United outcast. “I’ve worked hard for this moment and I’m just happy to have my chance.”

Maresca said: “I feel that Jadon is a boy who needs love. I know he wants to show the player who he is. I don’t see any problems around Jadon, around João (Félix), I don’t see anything negative, honestly.”

Bournemouth continued to create chances. Justin Kluivert forced another save from Sanchez, a training ground free-kick led to Antoine Semenyo’s shot going wide, Ryan Christie’s deflected shot hitting the post. But Bournemouth’s fatigue from their efforts was apparent and they pulled away as Chelsea finally enjoyed the comfort of dominating possession.

The hapless but playful Jackson was replaced by Nkunku. “We lacked quality in the penalty area,” Maresca said. After Sancho cut inside, a player whose time at Chelsea had been marred by injuries and the associated uncertainty of the club itself scored his vindication. It underlined that, regardless of who wins the civil war, Chelsea have gathered enough talent for Maresca to build a good team.