CHELSEA advanced to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 2-1 win over RB Salzburg in Austria.
Mateo Kovacic put the Blues 1-0 up before Adamu equalised for the home side. But Kai Havertz’s brilliant goal won the game for Graham Potter’s side.
- TV/Live stream: BT Sport 4
- Salzburg XI: Kohn, Adamu, Seiwald, Kjaergaard, Sucic, Gourna-Douath, Pavlovic, Wober, Dedic, Okafor, Bernardo
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cucurella, Kovacic, Jorginho, Sterling, Pulisic, Gallagher, Havertz, Aubameyang
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
That’s all from Austria
Chelsea can put their feet up, knowing that their 2-1 win at RB Salzburg has booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League – and with a game to spare.
And now you too can do the same, and enjoy the remaining Champions League games this evening that include Erling Haaland’s return to Borussia Dortmund with Manchester City.
Thanks for joining us, and goodbye.
New boss on Pott streak
And on the subject of unbeaten runs, Graham Potter has made it to nine games without defeat since taking charge at Stamford Bridge.
Credit: @OptaJoe Twitter Potter hails special Havertz strike
Chelsea manager Graham Potter paid tribute to his players after they ended RB Salzburg’s 40-match unbeaten run at home with a 2-1 success in Austria.
The game was settled by a special strike from Kai Havertz, the kind of goal that Potter admitted made his work easier when he has the players capable of such brilliance.
It was a fantastic performance from the players, they showed real courage because of the atmosphere here and the way they’re so intense. They put you under a lot of pressure, but we controlled it quite well and attacked well. We were disappointed to only be 1-0 up at half-time. One action from them levelled it, but we responded really well, and it was a great goal from Kai. It makes my job a lot easier when they can do that.
Graham Potter
Blues book place in knockouts
Chelsea’s win in Austria ensures that they become the sixth team to seal their spot in the Champions League’s Round of 16.
And if Dinamo Zagreb fail to beat AC Milan at home – a game that has just started in Croatia – then the Blues will be confirmed as Group E’s winners.
It seems a long time ago that Graham Potter picked up the reins with Chelsea bottom of the group.
Credit: Uefa.com Stats from the Red Bull Arena
Salzburg ended the evening having had more attempts at goal than their illustrious visitors, but only managed to keep seven of their 16 on target.
Full time – RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
For the 18th time in 19 attempts, Chelsea seal their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League – and with a game to spare too.
A thrilling encounter was settled by Kai Havert’s stunning strike, the best of three brilliant goals in the game.
Earlier in the second half, Junior Adamu had cancelled out Mateo Kovacic’s wonderful opener.
RB Salzburg’s 40-match unbeaten home run is over, but the Blues go marching on under Graham Potter.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
90+5. Chelsea appear to be seeing this one out by the corner flag.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea – Kepa yellow card
90+2. Kepa takes exception to Chalobah being double-teamed and Silva being flattened once again, and rushes out to show his displeasure with Simic.
The goalkeeper pushes the Salzburg man not once, but twice, and promptly receives a yellow card.
Clever player from the goalkeeper to break up any momentum from the home side in stoppage time, or a completely unnecessary booking? You decide.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
90. The board goes up to signal six additional minutes of stoppage time.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
89. The noise levels inside the Red Bull Arena are up, Salzburg are pressing, and Chelsea are now hanging on.
The home side have forced a flurry of corner, the latest that ends with Kepa making up for another missed punch by executing a diving save.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
87. Great hold-up play by Sesko on the left, matched by his eventual switch to Dedic on the right.
The defender takes the shot on first time, but it’s comfortably held at the near post by Kepa.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea – Gallagher yellow card
86. Connor Gallagher will have to play out the final few minutes on a booking after incurring the wrath of referee Sandro Scharer.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
83. Simic leans into Thiago Silva as he rises to head clear, and creates an arc for the Brazilian to crash to the ground.
It’s a really nasty landing for the 38-year-old, who – thankfully – looks nothing more than winded.
There were quite a few nervous onlookers holding their breath there.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea – RB Salzburg substitution
82. Another change for the hosts that sees goalscorer Junior Adamu departing.
Dijon Kameri has eight minutes plus stoppage time to show what he can do.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
81. Inside the final ten minutes, and Chelsea are now on the verge of sealing their qualification.
They can taste the Last 16, they just need to get themselves over the line.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea – RB Salzburg double substitution
79. Now it’s the home side’s turn to introduce fresh legs.
Andreas Ulmer and Roko Simic are on for Noah Okafor and Max Wober.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
77. It doesn’t take Azpilicueta long to showcase his trademark move: a foul on Gourna-Douath.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea – Chelsea double substitution
76. Despite that embarrassing miss with his last contribution to the game, Christian Pulisic receives a round of applause and a handshake from his manager as he’s replaced.
On come Cesar Azpilicueta and Armando Broja with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also departing.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
74. Big chance for Pulisic!
Havertz does ever so well to get to the touchline and pull a lovely pass back for the American 15 yards from goal.
Pulisic winds up his left foot, and…
…completely misses his kick.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
72. Graham Potter looks ready to make another change in order to see this game out.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea – Chelsea substitution
70. Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic has gone off, looking in some slight discomfort. Hopefully, it’s just precautionary.
On comes Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
69. Salzburg go close again!
Kepa rushes off his line to punch clear the corner, but then attempts to do so a second time when it’s played back in during the attack’s second phase.
This time, the Chelsea goalkeeper is nowhere near it as Pavlovic gets up highest to head towards goal.
Only the awareness of Thiago Silva, dropping back on to the line, stops Chelsea from being pegged back again.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
67. Sesko goes looking for another equaliser.
The teenage striker wriggles away from his marker, turns, and cracks a low drive towards the bottom corner from 20 yards.
It’s well saved by Kepa, pushing the strike out for a corner.
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea
64. The game’s third sensational goal – and this one may be the best of the lot!
Christian Pulisic does well to keep the attack alive after appearing to have run into trouble, quickly turning and laying a pass into the feet of Kai Havertz 25 yards from goal.
What the German does next is genius. Taking one touch to open up the opportunity, he then unleashes a vicious curling left-footed effort that crashes in off the underside of the crossbar, leaving Philipp Kohn on his knees.
Chelsea are back in front!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
