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 1 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
75 mins: Artem Dzyuba and Aleksandr Erokhin replace Wendel and Malcom for Zenit. Both are goalscorers so Zenit think they’ve got a chance to equalise.
Jorginho gives the ball to Havertz who threads the ball into Lukaku. The striker carries the ball into the area and cuts it back for Alonso. He looks to shoot but is caught on the ball and Zenit come away with possession.
Chelsea 1 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
72 mins: How do Zenit react? They were set up to defend and counter, hoping to maybe take about off the European champions. If that is to happen they need to chase the game now.
GOAL! Chelsea 1 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg (Lukaku, 69’)⚽️
69 mins: Here we go! What was I saying about decisive balls? Cesar Azpilicueta has pushed higher up the pitch this half and Chelsea work the ball out to him on the inside right. He swings it into the middle of the box where Lukaku pushes off his marker, jumps higher than the defender and guides a header into the bottom corner! Great cross, lovely finish. Chelsea have the lead!
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
66 mins: Kritsyuk is very unconvincing when he comes to punch away set pieces but to his credit he’s managed to get there four or five times and each time Zenit have cleared the ball.
Chelsea’s biggest problem tonight has been the decisive pass. They’ve got into good areas but have not been clinical enough getting the ball to Lukaku. A poor pass in midfield gives the ball to Havertz who attempts to feed it into the box but his pass comes too close to Rakits’kyy and he takes over possession.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
63 mins: Rakits’kyy is booked after Mount rolls off his shoulder and the defender hacks him down. Chelsea have a free kick just to the right of the Zenit penalty area. Marcos Alonso swings it into the box but Kritsyuk comes out to flap the ball away.
Kai Havertz is brought on the replace Hakim Ziyech.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
60 mins: An hour gone and the game is still deadlocked. Chelsea seem more alert and keen to take on riskier balls. Can they find a way through?
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
57 mins: Side-netting! James has the ball out wide and he leaves it for Mount. Mount comes inside as James continues on into the box. The ball comes in to Lukaku who lays it off for James and he guides the ball into the side-netting whilst looking for the near bottom corner. Better from Chelsea.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
54 mins: Andreas Christensen wins a header to clear the ball away from a Zenit corner. This is a testing time for Chelsea as they break on the counter. Mateo Kovacic’s through ball is glorious as he finds Alonso on the wing. Lukaku drives into the box but Alonso’s cross is blocked and booted into touch.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
51 mins: Oh my! What a run from Antonio Rudiger. He picks up the ball deep in his own half and drives up the pitch. He shakes one tackle, then another. The crowd are fully behind him and they encourage him to shoot as he brings the ball into the box. He shifts to the right and let fly but the effort goes wide! That’s livened things up.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg
48 mins: Chance! Azpilicueta feeds the ball into the box where Lukaku holds it up as Mount runs across him. He lays it off to Mount who loses possession but the ball squirts out to Ziyech on the edge of the box. He shoots but doesn’t find enough power and his shot is easily stopped by Kritsyuk in goal.
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