RB Salzburg vs Chelsea Champions League result and reaction as Chelsea qualify for knockout stage - live
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea: Goals from Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz see Blues book their spot int he kockouts with a game to spare
Kai Havertz’s brilliant second-half goal earned Chelsea a 2-1 win at RB Salzburg which booked their place in the Champions League knockout stages.
The Germany international curled in a stunning effort midway through the second half to decide a testing evening in Austria and extend Graham Potter’s unbeaten start to his Blues reign to nine games.
The Premier League side had gone ahead through a fine strike by Mateo Kovacic and only a string of saves by impressive home goalkeeper Philipp Kohn stopped it being a rout at half-time.
The Austrian side levelled early in the second half through Junior Adamu’s superb breakaway effort as Chelsea looked in peril. Havertz had the final say, though, winning the match in style and sending his side through with his 20-yard effort that found the top corner.
Chelsea will top Group E if Dinamo Zagreb fail to beat AC Milan in the late kick-off. Relive the action as Chelsea beat RB Salzburg in the Champions League:
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
44 mins: Sterling and Kovacic combine on the left wing and pass the ball quickly between each other before feeding it into the box with some help from Havertz.
He strays offside though and has to leave the ball for Aubameyang who sticks out his right leg and catches the goalkeeper as he flings himself on top of the loose ball.
Another decent stop from Philipp Kohn!
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
41 mins: Chelsea are dominating now. They’ve had over 76% possession and created five attempts at goal with four hitting the target.
Philipp Kohn has stopped the Blues adding to their lead in this half.
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
38 mins: Chance! Jorginho gives the ball to Trevoh Chalobah who pushes up the pitch and slides a great pass into the right side of the penalty area to match Conor Gallagher’s run.
He lifts the ball across to the edge of the six-yard box where Kai Havertz wins it in the air and heads the ball into the ground. It’s a decent effort but he hits it straight at the goalkeeper who manages to palm it into the air before grabbing hold of it on the second attempt.
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
35 mins: Chelsea have just moved up the gears and are slickly moving the ball around the pitch. Kovacic finds Sterling on the left who drives at the defence before slipping Havertz into the box.
He takes the ball to the byline before cutting it back into space but none of his teammates can get to the ball before Salzburg clear the danger.
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
32 mins: Save! Oh that would have been a beltin’ goal for Chelsea.
Jorginho brings the ball through the middle and sends it up to Raheem Sterling. He lays the ball off to Mateo Kovacic before spinning around the nearest defender and driving into the box.
Kovacic works the ball over to Kai Havertz on the left channel and he brings it into the penalty area before squaring across Sterling and picking out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
He takes a couple of touches then shoots but dallies long enough on the ball to allow Philipp Kohn to close him down and stop the shot with his left leg!
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
29 mins: Christian Pulisic is getting some much needed minutes tonight ahead of the World Cup starting next month. He goes on a run down the right wing carrying the ball out of his own half before Wober brings him down in a clash of bodies.
Chelsea take another quick free kick and look to spread the play from one side to the other.
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
26 mins: Save! Chelsea come close to adding a second!
They win a corner that gets curled onto the top of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s head. He whips the ball towards goal but it takes a slight deflection off Maximilian Wober which brings it within range of the goalkeeper.
Philipp Kohn leaps across to his right and pushes the ball wide of the back post. Great save!
GOAL! RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea (Kovacic, 23’)⚽️
23 mins: Fantastic finish from Mateo Kovacic!
Conor Gallagher swings a cross into the box from the right side and hits Kai Havertz on the head but he doesn’t know a geat deal about where the ball goes.
Christian Pulisic is up with him and recovers the ball but Havertz can’t shift it into a shooting position. Maximilian Wober gets across and pokes it away from him but the ball rolls across the body of Kovacic who lifts the ball into the top left-hand corner with a first time shot from just inside the box!
RB Salzburg 0-0 Chelsea
18 mins: Salzburg are unbeaten in their last 40 games at this ground. It won’t be an easy night for Chelsea but so far they’re handling the pressure well enough.
Nicolas Seiwald fouls Mateo Kovacic about halfway inside his own half but Chelsea work it quickly out to Raheem Sterling on the left wing.
He’s closed down almost immediately as Salzburg put everyone behind the ball and Chelsea are forced to retreat.
RB Salzburg 0-0 Chelsea
15 mins: Salzburg have found their feet in the game and are causing a few problems for Chelsea whenever they recover the ball. They’re fast to transition into attack and have been willing to get players up the pitch.
Luka Sucic receives the ball on the inside left channel and lets fly from just outside the Chelsea penalty area but his effort is always rising and he smokes it over the crossbar.
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