With Chelsea trailing 2-1 and a 25-yard free kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, we all thought Cole Palmer would take it.
But then Reece James, club captain and savior, stepped up as the now injury-free substitute struck the ball into the far corner and beyond Mark Travers to save the tie from defeat.
Although Chelsea were confident in this late equalizer from their captain, they left somewhat displeased. This was another game where they created a silly amount of chances and took none of them, Nicolas Jackson once again was the culprit.
While it is tempting to look further into the Blues' failings, with the expectant Stamford Bridge fans showing their frustrations before James had his fun, this was actually a night to praise Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth.
They are becoming the other surprise of this season, after Nottingham Forest of course. Nine games unbeaten in the Premier League represents a club record, and could still secure European football for the first time in history. It was an equalizing penalty from Justin Kluivert and a goal from Antoine Semenyo in the 68th minute that left them so close to victory.
Chelsea have been linked with almost the entire Bournemouth backline, including their central defenders Dean Huijsen, 19, and Illia Zabarnyi, 22. They like a talented youngster, the Blues, and this was certainly a team young man who arrived with Iraola.
The substitutes' bench told a story when injuries and other problems saw it filled with children, including Daniel Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi, two youngsters who were playing for League Two Carlisle United until last week. It was on Friday that Bournemouth announced they would be recalling the duo from their season-long loans to help with their shortage.
They saw Chelsea threaten from the start, a strong touch from Enzo Fernandez robbing them of the chance to open the scoring as Mark Travers smothered the ball before the midfielder could reach it. Travers replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga, the goalkeeper unable to face his parent club, and became accustomed to seeing Jadon Sancho running into his area.
Sancho was having fun here. There was even a double nutmeg from the Manchester United loanee at one point – caressing the ball through the legs of Lewis Cook and then Ryan Christie to get out of a jam on the left wing, as the south London lad showed his football creativity in a cage.
He set up Cole Palmer in Chelsea's final Premier League game at Crystal Palace and almost did it again when he cut the ball back for his team-mate, whose curler went narrowly wide. England manager Thomas Tuchel was here at Stamford Bridge to watch the pair combine.
In the 13th minute, Chelsea found the goal. It started with an interception by Marc Cucurella while Jackson was holding the ball. He was surrounded by three Bournemouth men and yet he rolled Zabarnyi as he turned and played in Palmer for a one-on-one with Travers.
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by the shot that followed the 22-year-old Chelsea superstar, the way he faked a shot to sit up the Bournemouth goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the open goal. The English wonder made it look easy. It is, if your name is Cole Palmer.
In the 22nd minute, Iraola had to make a change because James Hill was injured. He turned to the only veteran footballer he had on the bench: Kluivert.
Chelsea went back on the attack, Noni Madueke's determination on the right was not rewarded when Jackson skied what should have been a touch for an elite striker.
In the 37th minute came Bournemouth's first chance, given to them by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, who once again failed in an attempted pass from behind. Kluivert hit the post. Seconds later, Jackson did the same from 20 yards out.
Chelsea should have scored again in the 44th minute, when Palmer's cross found Jackson. Travers saved his header from six yards. The rebound fell at his feet, this time from two meters. He hit it into the side netting and Enzo Maresca fell to his knees in the technical area.
It is not surprising that Chelsea are still linked to forwards, such as Ipswich's Liam Delap, when their centre-forward misses clear opportunities like this.
In the 49th minute, Bournemouth won a penalty when Moisés Caicedo burst into Semenyo's back. He didn't take any of the ball, all the man, and Kluivert made it 1-1 by scoring directly through the middle. It is not the first time this season that Chelsea regrets their waste.
David Brooks feared a red card when Jones visited his pitchside monitor and warned that the Bournemouth winger had potentially violently stopped Cucurella. In a rare situation, Jones did not agree with the VAR recommendation, much to Chelsea's fury.
Sanchez was then needed to prevent Brooks from giving Bournemouth the lead. But the Chelsea goalkeeper was unable to stop Semenyo when, given too much space by Josh Acheampong as the 18-year-old centre-back showed his inexperience, he blasted the ball towards the goal to make it 2-1.
In added time, substitute Joao Félix scored a free kick. Palmer stood next to him. But then James passed the ball past Travers to make it 2-2.