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 0-0 Chelsea
12 mins: Noah Okafor wins a second corner in quick succession for Salzburg after Kepa Arrizabalaga gives the ball away. However Chelsea deal with it competently and look to sweep up the pitch.
RB Salzburg 0-0 Chelsea
9 mins: Dedic pushes high up the right wing and forces Raheem Sterling into some defensive work for Chelsea as he blocks a cross behind for a corner.
The delivery comes over to Bernardo but he doesn’t quite reach it and Trevoh Chalobah manages to nod the ball down before Chelsea clear their lines.
RB Salzburg 0-0 Chelsea
6 mins: Great play from Chelsea who press brilliantly and close down the ball in numbers. Amar Dedic loses it to Mateo Kovacic but he in turn is tackled in the centre of the final third.
Conor Gallagher is quickest to respond for the Blues and nicks it back before threading a fine pass through the lines to send Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang into the box.
Aubameyang’s first touch is shocking though and he ends up passing the ball to the goalkeeper.
RB Salzburg 0-0 Chelsea
3 mins: Penalty shout! Salzburg defender Bernardo attempts to nod an aerial ball back to his goalkeeping but underhits it massively. Philipp Kohn sprints out of his own goal and drives at the ball just as Kai Havertz flies past the defender.
The goalkeeper dives to the floor and reaches the ball first before flapping it away from Havertz and colliding with the Chelsea forward.
There’s a shout from the visitors for a penalty as Havertz hits the deck but the referee signals that Kohn got the ball first and waves away the appeal.
Kick off: RB Salzburg 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea get the ball rolling and work it over to the right wing where they win throw high up the pitch. Salzburg keep their defensive shape tight but the Blues knock the ball backwards and look to gently play themselves into the game.
Christian Pulisic has started wide on the right with Raheem Sterling taking up a similar position on the opposite wing.
RB Salzburg vs Chelsea
Here come the teams!
Chelsea know that a victory tonight will send them into the round of 16 with one game to spare and they could also clinch the group provided that Dinamo Zagreb lose to AC Milan.
1,500 Chelsea fans have travelled to watch their side this evening. Will they see a Blues victory?
A good omen for Potter?
Graham Potter is looking to become the first Chelsea manager to go unbeaten in his first four Champions League games since Roberto Di Matteo did so in April 2012.
Di Matteo led the Blues to the final that year where they defeated Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties following 1-1 draw during the match.
Salzburg’s key man?
Only Erling Haaland (eight) has scored more Champions League goals for Salzburg than Noah Okafor (six).
Can Chelsea win again?
Graham Potter’s side have won their last two games in the Champions League beating AC Milan 3-0 at home and 2-0 away.
The last time Chelsea won three games in a row in the competition, by at least a two goal margin, was in Oct/Nov 2013 when Jose Mourinho was in charge.
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