CHELSEA drew 1-1 with Salzburg in the Champions League on Graham Potter’s first night as manager.
Raheem Sterling opened the scoring with a curled effort but Okafor equalised late on for the Austrian side.
- Start time: 8pm BST
- Live stream/TV: BT Sport 3
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Cucurella, Mount, Kovacic, Jorginho, Sterling, Aubameyang, Havertz
- Salzburg XI: Kohn, Capaldo, Fernando, Seiwald, Kjaergaard, Ulmer, Sucic, Pavloviv, Dedic, Okafor, Bernardo
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That’s all from Stamford Bridge
That’s your lot then. Thank you for joining us.
The Potter era is underway, not quite in style, but only time will tell whether he can turn things around at Chelsea.
Goodnight!
“The boys gave everything”
A disappointed but positive Graham Potter reacted to his side’s performance after the game:
We’re disappointed with the result in the end. I thought the boys gave everything, really did. They attacked quite well. Scored a good goal. Their keeper made some good saves. So overall, disappointed with the result. It wasn’t quite to be today.
They defended well with blocks, and we had a few efforts we didn’t do so well with, but against a Champions League side, you’re not going to open them up so easily.
It is what it is. We have to dust ourselves down, but the application of the boys was fantastic, the attitude was great, the personality as well, so we’ll get better.
Graham Potter, Chelsea boss
.Credit: Getty Same old story
Graham Potter applauds the fans who he is yet to win over based on that 90 minutes.
The performance was there, but it was the same old story up front as a number of chances went begging.
Sterling got the scoring underway early in the second half. But they couldn’t hold on, allowing Okafor the opportunity to level the scores.
Blues fans may focus on the positives. They were dominant for most of the match. However, Chelsea’s treacherous European journey continues.
Group leaders AC Milan lie in waiting, and will be licking their lips at a Chelsea side who seem unable to get the job done.
.Credit: Getty
Full-time – Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
The whistle is blown after an enthralling last few minutes at Stamford Bridge.
In truth, Chelsea let that one slip. They had opportunities to put the game to bed but couldn’t take them. Ziyech, Broja and James all had chances to win it.
But Potter’s first game in charge ends in a draw, more significantly leaving them bottom of group E.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
90+3, The ball drops to Ziyech who lines up the volley, but gets it all wrong, sending it bouncing into the arms of Kohn.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
90+2, Broja with the chance to win it!
The ball bobbles around a messy six-yard box following Ziyech’s in-swinging cross. It bounces kindly for Broja who leathers it over the bar. He has to hit the target there.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
90+1, Groans ring out around Stamford Bridge as Ziyech’s corner doesn’t beat the first man. So frustrating.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
90, Ziyech wins a corner and Chelsea flood the box.
There will be four added minutes time here.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
89, Capaldo is booked for a challenge on Cucurella right on the half-way line.
One more minute plus stoppage time for either side to grab a winner.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
87, All the chances are falling to Ziyech.
Pulisic floats a good ball to the back post where Ziyech was arriving. But his downward header is straight at Kohn. He would have been better trying to find Broja in the middle.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
84, Speak of the devil, Sterling is off for Pulisic.
Goalscorer Okafor also hobbles off for the visitors. Koita is on.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
82, Ziyech so nearly scores with his first touch!
Broja flashes a ball across the face and Kohn spreads himself brilliantly to deny the Moroccan from point-blank range.
Ziyech then over-hits a simple pass to Gallagher in behind. Then again, Sterling might have got to that one.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
81, More changes from Graham Potter who must be moving to a back three.
Zieych is on for Azpilicueta, whilst Gallagher is on for Kovacic.
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
77, Pavlovic slides in late on Loftus-Cheek, a few blades of grass from the six-yard box and is booked by the referee.
Jorginho rolls the free kick to James on the edge of the area who sends his first-time shot narrowly over.
GOAL! – Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
74, Okafor equalises!
Chelsea had been warned.
The hosts lose concentration and Salzburg catch them on the break. Adamu gets down the right and plays a simple ball across goal to Okafor who sweeps the ball home via a little deflection from Azpilicueta.
Chelsea switch off, Salzburg punish them.
.Credit: Getty
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
73, Kemari whips in a dangerous ball and Okafor has a free header. But it’s straight at Kepa.
A stark reminder that Chelsea aren’t home and dry yet. Just one goal in it.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
72, Pavlovic wipes out Loftus-Cheek from behind, conceding the free-kick. Broja looks fine to continue.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
70, Salzburg make a couple of changes. Sucic and Sesko are off. Kameri and Adamu are on.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
68, Thiago Silva with a typically perfect sliding challenge on his man.
A joy to watch on the replays.
Meanwhile, Broja is down after a nasty looking clash of heads.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
67, Broja almost with an immediate impact.
Kovacic slides Broja in behind who sends his effort rolling wide of the goal under challenge.
The flag is the raised for offside against the Albanian, perhaps saving his blushes. He should have put it away.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
66, That will be the German’s last contribution. He makes way for Loftus-Cheek.
Aubameyang is also withdrawn for Broja.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
65, Jorginho, pulling the strings again, chips a first time ball into Havertz who fluffs his lines, sending his first-time volley bouncing wide.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
64, Sesko holds the ball up well and it’s poked into Okafor who goes down rather optimistically in the area.
Broja is warming up for the hosts.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
62, Groans ring out around the Bridge as Sterling wanders unnecessarily offside in a promising situation.
The game has fallen a little flat.
Chelsea 1-0 Salzburg
60, Jorginho teases another wicked ball into Aubameyang but Kohn is alert to the danger.
A relationship seems to be developing between the pair. Flashbacks to the relationship between Fabregas and Diego Costa all those years ago.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
