Chelsea vs Salzburg LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction from Graham Potter’s first game
The new boss at Stamford Bridge takes charge of the Blues for the first time
Chelsea drew 1-1 with Salzburg in the Champions League as Graham Potter’s reign started with a frustrating draw. The Blues remain bottom of their group following last week’s defeat to Dinamo, a result which saw Thomas Tuchel sacked and Potter appointed in his place thereafter.
Here at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea dominated large stretches of play but failed to make too much count in the final third. Reece James and Raheem Sterling went closest in a low-key first half, before the latter opened the scoring soon after half-time with an expertly taken finish into the far corner.
Chelsea would have hoped to see the game out but Noah Okafor rolled in an equaliser for Salzburg, with Hakim Ziyech and Armando Broja among those to spurn late opportunities to seal the points for the home side and give Potter a winning start.
Follow all the reaction from Chelsea’s draw with Salzburg below:
Chelsea start Graham Potter’s reign with Champions League draw against Salzburg
Well, no one said this would be easy. You only get one chance at a first impression and although Graham Potter will be pleased with large parts of his team’s performance against FC Salzburg, he and Chelsea come away without the result they were looking for, as well as some familiar frustrations. Raheem Sterling’s fine finish to give Chelsea the lead followed an encouraging opening spell from Potter’s side but as casualness crept in, Thiago Silva’s lapse led to Noah Okafor’s equaliser and a potentially sticky situation in Group E.
Much of that, of course, is not of Potter’s own making and instead there can be a lot to take from his first experience of the Champions League. After a disastrous display and result in Zagreb, the sacking of Thomas Tuchel and a whirlwind week, Chelsea were far sharper and Potter’s early work on the training ground was evident, but this remains a team who are low on confidence and restoring it will be the former Brighton manager’s more pertinent task in the coming weeks.
With just one point from their opening two group games, a tricky double header against AC Milan looms next month that will go a long way to determining whether Chelsea are still involved in the competition come the new year. Before then, Potter will have time to get to work and on the initial evidence of his first match in charge, the Englishman will hope to have made further strides by then - even if the scale of the job at hand was made clear here.
Jamie Braidwood reports from Stamford Bridge:
Chelsea start Graham Potter’s reign with Champions League draw against Salzburg
Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg: Raheem Sterling curled in the first goal of the new boss’ reign but Noah Okafor steered in an equaliser
FT - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
An interesting tactical wrinkle from Potter tonight. We’ll see how his team develops but it was a very fluid three in possession, four in defensive phases tonight.
FT - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
Lots of possession, a good few chances but not too many clear-cut openings until Ziyech and perhaps Broja late on tonight.
Work to do in the build-up and final third for the new boss.
FT - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
Ziyech has the last chance but his attempted volley is a shinned-into-the-ground scuffer which is easy for the keeper to gather. The whistle goes soon after and it’s just one point from two Champions League games for Chelsea. Salzburg move onto two points to stay ahead of the Blues, who are bottom of the group.
Work for Potter to do, but he’ll have time for it - their weekend game is postponed and then it’s the international break.
90+3' - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
Not much invention or inspiration in these closing stages. Lots of crosses from wide areas but little else from Chelsea. Gallagher nods one down and Broja wallops it - but it’s over the crossbar by a distance. Needed more composure. He shakes his head ruefully - might have earned him a starting spot as well as a victory on the night.
90 - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
Into the last minute. Capaldo is booked for a foul on Cucurella. Are Potter’s team going to get one final late opportunity to seize the victory?
Four minutes added on, so they’ll have a few chances to find the right build-up.
86’ - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
Broja and Sterling combine down the right flank and the former crosses low - Ziyech arrives right after coming on but his first-time shot is brilliantly blocked by Kohn.
Inside the final few minutes at Stamford Bridge and no real telling where the points will end up - both sides have had reasonable openings late on.
Chelsea sub: Pulisic on for Sterling
Salzburg sub: Okafor replaced by Sekou Koita
82’ - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
James involved in a bit of a skirmish but the ref quickly breaks it up. Inside the final ten minutes now as Chelsea look for a winner. Ulmer is into the book as a result of that mini brawl with Reece James.
Chelsea subs: Gallagher for Kovacic, Ziyech for Azpilicueta
78' - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
Loftus-Cheek surges into the box and is scythed down by Pavlovic - the foul occurred a footstep outside the line, though. Yellow for the defender, crossing chance for the Blues. Cucurella pulls the set piece back to James on the edge of the box and he hammers a shot a yard over the bar.
74’ GOAL! - Chelsea 1-1 Salzburg
Okafor glances a header goalward to force Kepa into a save. He didn’t get a lot on the effort but it’s the first strike on target for the visitors since that Kepa stop from Sesko.
In the next moment of play Kovacic goes down injured after a tackle, Thiago Silva totally misses his attempted interception and a low cross is met by Okafor who this time side-foots past Kepa and in for the equaliser!
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