Chelsea vs Zenit LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
Relive all the action as the Blues began the defence of their European crown
Romelu Lukaku’s pinpoint header rescued Chelsea’s first match as Champions League holders in a 1-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg.
Belgium hitman Lukaku bagged his third goal in two games and his fourth for Chelsea since his £98million switch from Inter Milan.
The 28-year-old converted captain Cesar Azpilicueta’s hanging far-post cross with a header of stunning accuracy, and that after shrugging aside three touch-tight Zenit defenders.
Chelsea laboured past a resolute and regimented Zenit, for much of the match running the risk of limping to a dispiriting draw.
But then Lukaku rose up, highest of all, to nod home and turn the night entirely. Relive all the action below:
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
24 mins: Chelsea win a corner that James curls into the middle. It goes over the head of Rudiger and Stanislav Kritsyuk manages to flap it away. It’s a poor clearance though but luckily the ball drops to Barrios who wastes no time in booting it long.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
21 mins: Thomas Tuchel isn’t best pleased on the sidelines. He’s trying to get his players to shape up a bit and increase the tempo. Jorginho attempts to find Marcos Alonso on the left-wing but he puts the ball straight out of play. That’ll won’t improve Tuchel’s mood.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
18 mins: Zenit are playing with a back four but Barrios drops deep making it a five when Chelsea have the ball. It means the Blues have to play the ball early to make use of the space in behind. Mount attempts to dink the ball over the top to match James’ run in from the right but the pass is too heavy and goes out of play. Chelsea are just finding it a little difficult to break down the visitors.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
15 mins: The corner comes to nothing for Zenit and Chelsea work the ball down the right side. It comes to James who’s bombed forward on the overlap. He cuts it inside to Ziyech and he shoots on the spin but his effort is blocked. The ball comes to Mason Mount who swings a cross into box. Lukaku makes a run into the middle but he can’t reach the pass and it goes out behind.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
12 mins: Zenit started slowly but they’re showing good signs. A cross comes into the box from the right wing and Sardar Azmoun flicks it on. Claudinho is free to bring the ball down but his touch is poor which allows Reece James to get back and poke the ball out for a corner kick.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
9 mins: Another long ball up to Lukaku, this time from Antonio Rudiger, almost makes it through as the striker leans on Dmitrii Chistiakos. The defender holds his ground though and manages to win the ball, getting enough of a touch on it to send the ball free of Lukaku.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
6 mins: Chelsea have taken control of the ball. Zenit’s early pressing already seems a thing of the past. Azpilicueta fires a deep cross in towards Romelu Lukaku but can’t pick out the forward in the box.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
3 mins: Azpilicueta threads a piercing ball into the midfield and finds Hakim Ziyech. Ziyech turns towards goal and shifts the ball to his left-foot. He’s going to shoot but Wilmar Barrios gets back just in time to nick the ball away from him.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
Kick off: Chelsea get the game started by knocking the ball back to their defence. Zenit press high and a couple of loose passes almost spell dnager for the Blues. Reece James attempts to find Cesar Azpilicueta but the ball comes to Malcom on the edge of the box. He isn’t able to control the ball though and Chelsea win it back.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments