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:
Young Boys 1 - 1 Man Utd
84 mins: Those changes for Young Boys show that they think United are there for the taking. Sulejmani will cause problems over these closing minutes. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side need to stay switched on. Ngamaleu takes on Shaw and wins a corner as his cross is blocked by the left-back.
Young Boys 1 - 1 Man Utd
81 mins: Wan Bissaka’s sending off has totally changed the outlook of the game. Young Boys have dominated since United went down to 10-men. They’ve had 17 attempts at goal and have earned themselves an equaliser. They’re aren’t done either.
There’s a break in play after Lindelof and Elia clash heads so David Wagner makes some changes. Fabian Rieder comes on to replace Martins with Miralem Sulejmani replacing Hefti for Young Boys.
Young Boys 1 - 1 Man Utd
78 mins: Manchester United win a free kick high up the pitch on the right side as Pogba is fouled on the ball. Dalot swings it into the middle and the ball drops for Lindelof. He can’t work it from under his own feet to shoot and gets dispossessed allowing Young Boys to clear the danger.
Young Boys 1 - 1 Man Utd
75 mins: Varane gets to another cross to nudge it away from Hefti. The ball comes to Fassnacht on the edge of the box but his effort sails high and wide.
United can’t get a foothold in the game. Young Boys aren’t letting them have any time on the ball. They win and corner and play it quickly. Aebischer drives a low pass across the six yard box but Varane is there again to tip it behind for another corner.
Young Boys 1 - 1 Man Utd
72 mins: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes a double change with 18 minutes to go. Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard are brought on replacing Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo.
It’s a defensive move from the United boss but one that was needed. Fred was getting overwhelmed in midfield and Lingard offers quicker legs up top.
Young Boys 1 - 1 Man Utd
69 mins: Corner to Young Boys. Aebischer floats the set piece to the edge of the box and picks out Elia. He attempts to volley a shot first time but spoons it into the air and Ronaldo has to clear the danger. The home side are all over United here.
GOAL! Young Boys 1 - 1 Man Utd (Ngamaleu, 66’)⚽️
66 mins: It’s been coming! Young Boys have been getting themselves in increasingly dangerous positions. United have had to defend wave after wave but finally they’ve been broken open. Elia drives into the right side of the box and hits a low ball into the middle. Ngamaleu squeezes in front of Varane and pokes the ball past De Gea to give the home side the equaliser.
Young Boys 0 - 1 Man Utd
60 mins: Young Boys are starting to get more crosses into the box. Luke Shaw blocks a couple before Elia runs the ball out of play.
United then win a free kick close to the halfway line and Maguire’s long ball goes straight out of play.
Chelsea vs Zenit St Petersburg
Chelsea get their Champions League campaign underway after the conclusion of this match. Here’s their starting XI:
Thomas Tuchel makes five changes to the team that won 3-0 against Aston Villa at the weekend.
Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Saul Niguez, Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson-Odoi all drop out of the XI.
In come Andreas Christensen, Jorginho, Mason Mount, Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Young Boys 0 - 1 Man Utd
57 mins: The crowd haven’t stopped chanting and singing since Wan Bissaka got sent off. They’re giving life to Young Boys’ attacking players as Ngamaleu drives into the box. He attempts to work it across the six-yard box and wins a corner.
The corner ball sails over everyone and drops for Elia on the edge of the box. He goes for goal but can’t get over the top of the shot and only manages to spoon it over the goal.
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