Raheem Sterling advanced the 2021 winners in the 48th minute, but Noah Okafor equalized in the 75th minute for the Bulls.
There was already a 1-1 draw against the Italian champions in Wals-Siezenheim. Milan (4 points) currently lead Group E ahead of the Croatians (3) after beating Dinamo 3-1. Salzburg continues in the “premier class” on October 5th with the home game against Dinamo.
Coach Matthias Jaissle’s team was able to celebrate after an exhausting performance after the evening had started with a minor setback. Was it against Milan Maximilian Wöber, in London Fernando injured his thigh while warming up. Benjamin Sesko replaced the Brazilian in the starting line-up. Luka Sucic, who was questionable due to groin problems, also started in this one. Jaissle also felt a bit in the dark after his compatriot Thomas Tuchel was eliminated. For Chelsea it was the first game under successor Graham Potter. The 47-year-old saw his first “challenge” in Salzburg. His eleven tackled this briskly.
After a minute’s silence for the late Queen Elizabeth II, Chelsea took full charge forward in front of England coach Gareth Southgate. Salzburg, who started without the injured Wöber and Oumar Solet, quickly found themselves in defensive mode, but initially did not allow a shot on goal. Okafor showed how it could work. The Swiss had space in front of him on a counterattack, Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had to clear well in front of his goal. The guests didn’t come into pressing situations at all.
Philipp Köhn in the Salzburg goal only had to intervene in the 22nd minute, Strahinja Pavlovic then cleared before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was ready to score. After the first 20-minute blue Sturm und Drang phase, Salzburg had the game better under control. Sports director Christoph Freund was also able to note this with satisfaction from the stands. The 45-year-old was linked to Chelse in the media the day before the game. Freund is said to be one of the candidates for the post of club director with the new owners. d is said to be one of the candidates for the post of club director with the new owners.
Both teams were given a breather by their technique, which struck Slovakia’s referee Ivan Kruzliak. In the last five minutes before the break there were good chances here and there. Mason Mount was initially free at the edge of the penalty area, but shot just wide (40′). At the other end, Sesko tried from a distance, but Kepa saved his ever-longer shot to a corner (41′). At one point things got a little tricky for the “bulls”. A header from Mateo Kovacic went to Bernardo’s hand in the penalty area. However, Kruzliak saw no criminal offense in this.
Jaissle sent on Lucas Gourna-Douath for Maurits Kjaergaard after the break. The game was less than three minutes into the game and Chelsea were ahead. Right-back Reece James grabbed the ball and raised it again, Mount’s cross missed Bernardo in the middle and Sterling had the time and precision to fire into the far corner.
Salzburg kept trying, but Chelsea didn’t give up. Kai Havertz, who was released in front of Köhn, missed the volley (65th). Junior Adamu and Dijon Kameri replaced Sucic and Sesko. Okafor tried it with a header (73′) and initially didn’t pose a problem for Kepa. Shortly afterwards, however, the Swiss was allowed to celebrate the goal. Gourna-Douath drove the ball forward and found Adamu who shook off Cesar Azpilicueta. Okafor directed his cross into the goal.
Chelsea answered, upping the ante again. Köhn parried against substitute Hakim Ziyech. In the four-minute stoppage time, the English tried everything again. Armando Broja threw the ball over the bar from the best position (93′).
Source: Nachrichten
