CHELSEA take on Aston Villa in Abu Dhabi today as both sides prepare for the return of the Premier League.
The Blues were in torrid form before the World Cup and they need build some momentum before the season starts again.
- Kick-off time: 2.10pm GMT
- Stream: Fifth Stand app
- Villa XI: Olsen, A. Young, Konsa, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Raikhy, Bailey, Watkins
- Chelsea XI: Bettinelli; Brooking, Humphreys, Chalobah, Cucurella, Webster, Jorginho, Hall, Hutchinson, Broja, Aubameyang
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Follow the action with our live blog below…
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
90. Three minutes of additional time is signalled by the fourth official.
Villa are seconds away from Al-Wahda Challenge Cup glory, and time is fast running out for the Blues.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
89. A late chance for Elliott!
Rankine does well to get beyond Augustinsson to reach the byline, and then just as well to pull a pass back into the path of Elliott.
The youngster takes it on for the first time, but his shot is deflected up and behind by what looked like the arm of Chambers.
With no VAR in use, it’s no penalty.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
87. Danny Ings misses a glorious chance to seal victory.
Archer gets the better of Hall – the first time the Chelsea man has been caught out today – and then sprints towards the area.
Drawing another defender, the forward slips in his fellow substitute, who responds by pushing his effort wide of the post.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea – Aston Villa double substitution
84. Off goes the scorer of the game’s only goal, John McGinn, but will he be the match winner?
Also off is Douglas Luiz with Unai Emery sending on Marvellous Nakamba and Tommi O’Reilly.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
82. Another flash of brilliance from Hutchinson, who deceives Douglas Luiz in midfield, and is then only denied an opportunity to attack further by a grab on his shirt.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
80. Inside the final ten minutes.
Can Chelsea rescue this one to keep them in with a shot at CBF Al-Wahda Challenge Cup glory?
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
78. Marc Cucurella has successfully executed two crunching tackles on Aston Villa’s 16-year-old Kaden Young in this second half.
Welcome to the senior game, young man.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
76. Bettinelli denies Augustinsson!
The left-back is on to Archer’s knock back in a flash, but his crisp low drive is well blocked by the Chelsea keeper.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
74. Chelsea’s two outstanding performers – Hutchinson and Hall – have gone quiet in the past 15 minutes or so, and with them has gone the Blues’ drive and intent.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea – Chelsea substitution
72. The Blues bring on another youngster in Ben Elliott, who has recently turned 20.
He replaces Josh Brooking.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
70. The game has now entered that post-mass substitution lull where several newcomers are attempting to get a feel for things.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea – Brooking yellow card
67. The first yellow card of the game is shown to Josh Brooking after the young Chelsea defender pulled goalbound Cameron Archer back by the shirt.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea – Chelsea substitutions
64. Graham Potter also decides to switch things up.
The Chelsea boss’s subs have a younger look about them with Malik Mothersille and Cesara Casadei on for Alfie Gilchrist and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea – Aston Villa substitutions
63. Unai Emery figures it’s time to make some changes.
Calum Chambers, Ludwig Augustinsson, Cameron Archer and Danny Ings are on for Ezri Konsa, Lucas Digne, Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
62. Hutchinson delays his through ball by a split second, and that means when it does leave his foot, Aubameyang is a fraction offside.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
60. On the hour mark, an outswinging cross from the left brings Bettinelli into the action again.
His punch on this occasion is less assured, but Chelsea get away with it.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
58. Villa are pressing regularly now, and are looking to make their experience count with a decisive second goal.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
56. Bettinelli denies Bailey!
Chelsea’s third-choice keeper comes up trumps after clever interplay between Bailey and McGinn sees the former go through on goal.
A good first touch, and a quick left-footed shot look destined for the net until Bettinelli’s excellent reaction turns the ball away.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
54. On the right, Aubameyang is in danger of doing something clever and expertly well as he gets away from Kamara.
He immediately spoils it though with a sloppy pass in the direction of Hutchinson.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
52. Chelsea suddenly look pulled out of shape as Watkins and Bailey build again.
Somehow, more through luck than judgement, the Blues manage to get it away.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
51. Bailey utilises his pace for the first time tonight to tear his way down the left.
The Jamaican gets to the byline, bides his time and then lays back to McGinn, who curls over.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
49. Mings looks to send Watkins away with a long ball through the middle, but excellent reading from Gilchrist snuffs the striker out.
Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
47. Almost an immediate equaliser at the start of the start of the second half!
Hall latches on to a lay pack and pulls a wonderfully whipped shot across goal towards the bottom corner, where it’s met by a smart save from Olsen.
Kick-off – Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea
46. It’s Chelsea that restart the action, having made no further changes at half-time.
Villa, meanwhile, have introduced 16-year-old Kadan Young for Arjan Raikhy.
First half facts and figures
Chelsea are yet to create a big chance in the Al-Wahda Challenge Cup.
Can they put that right in the second half?
Credit: chelseafc.com
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
