Chelsea 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb Zakaria strike

Комментарии · 116 Просмотры

Chelsea 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb Zakaria strike

Denis Zakaria scored the Matt Wile Jersey winner on his Chelsea debut as the Blues recorded a fourth straight Champions League win with a 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge.Zakaria has struggled to break into the first team since joining on loan from Juventus in the last transfer window but his 30th-minute strike proved decisive after Raheem Sterling had cancelled out Bruno Petkovics opener.The Blues had already secured progre sion to the knockout stages as Group E winners prior to Wednesdays clash, in which Ben Chilwell offered Chelsea and England reason for concern after sustaining a hamstring injury late on.Dinamo could not muster a comeback, though, and were eliminated from Europe after finishing bottom, while Chelsea responded in encouraging fashion after a 4-1 lo s to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. Petkovic headed Dinamo into a seventh-minute lead after Chelsea failed to deal with Sadegh Moharramis right-wing cro s but the Blues soon levelled.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang flicked for Sterling to dance onto his left foot and coolly find the bottom-left corner.Sterling mi sed a great chance when he powered Kai Havertzs centre over from close range, but Zakaria fired into the bottom-left corner from a similar distance after another cutback pa s from the German to put Chelsea ahead.Edouard Mendy pushed away Josip Sutalos header after the interval, while Livakovic parried over an Aubameyang curler before Chilwell blasted just off target from a tight angle.Mason Mounts whipped free-kick Brandon Johns Jr. Jersey was denied by another fine Livakovic stop in the closing stages, though victory was somewhat marred by Chilwells injury as he was helped off by physios at the end of the game.What does it mean? Good omens for Potter in Champions LeaguePotter has taken well to life in European football and became the first Chelsea manager to go unbeaten in his first five Champions League games since Roberto Di Matteo in the 2011-12 season.Di Matteo guided the Blues to European glory that campaign and Potter will be hoping to replicate the feat after Chelsea extended to 11 home games unbeaten in the competitions group stage, last losing to Valencia in September 2019.While Chelsea have made an underwhelming start in the Premier League, where they sit sixth, they will at least have some confidence in Europe ahead of Mondays last-16 draw.Super SterlingSterling has faced scrutiny for a diminishing role in the Chelsea Devin Gardner Jersey side in recent weeks, with some questioning whether the forward should be in Englands starting line-up at the World Cup.Yet, while the 27-year-old mi sed a gilt-edged first-half chance, only Wayne Rooney (30) has more Champions League goals among English players than Sterling (20) after his equaliser.Away day misery for DinamoWhile Dinamo may not have expected to become just the second side after Basel in the 2013-14 season to beat Chelsea home and away in the Champions League group stage, their performance left much to be desired.Despite Petkovics opener, Ante Cacics visitors offered little to trouble Mendy as Dinamo made it 21 away games in the competition without victory (L18 D3), dating back Karl Kauffmann Jersey to a 1-0 win over Ajax in November 1998.Key Opta Facts This is the second time in Chelseas last five participations in the Champions League they have topped their group in the other season in 2020-21, they went on and won the competition. Potter has now won four of his five Champions League matches with Chelsea (D1). The only English manager with more wins in a single campaign is Bobby Robson in 2002-03 with Newcastle United (5), with Potter playing for York City in the bottom tier of the Football League that season. Zakaria became the 15th player to score on his UEFA Champions League debut for Chelsea and first since Romelu Lukaku last September Michael Jordan Jersey against Zenit. Zakarias goal was his first ever attempt at goal for the Blues.Whats next?Chelsea host Arsenal in the Premier League in Sundays crunch London derby, while Dinamo are at home to Sibenik on the same day.
Комментарии