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 0 - 1 Man Utd
40 mins: This is a weird one. An aerial ball comes into the left side of United’s box. Shaw and Hefti both attempt to win it but Shaw gets higher. Hefti throws his head at the ball, gets nowhere near it and ends up headbutting Shaw in the middle of the chest. Free kick to Man Utd.
Young Boys 0 - 1 Man Utd
37 mins: Man Utd are now down to 10-men. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wastes no time and whips off Jadon Sancho to brings on Diogo Dalot as a replacement right back.
Close! Ulisses Garcia is given the ball on the left side. He makes use of the disarray at the United right-back position to fire a cross into the far side of the area. The ball comes all the way to Fassnacht who brings it down and shoots but pulls it wide of the back post!
RED CARD! Wan Bissaka is off!
35 mins: Wan Bissaka overstretches and goes over the top of the ball in a 50-50 challenge with Christopher Martins. His studs are up and he lands on Martins’ ankle. The Young Boys man goes down in pain and referee François Letexier pulls out a straight red card! Game changer!
Young Boys 0 - 1 Man Utd
33 mins: Pogba and Aebischer challenge each other for an aerial ball with the Young Boys man coming away in possession. He carries it towards the 18-yard box and hits one from range. It’s a decent enough strike but keeps rising and goes over the bar.
Young Boys 0 - 1 Man Utd
30 mins: Nearly! Man Utd move the ball slickly around the pitch as they move it forward. Van de Beek makes a nice run through the middle and lays the ball off to Fred. He sends it out to Wan Bissaka on the right who delivers a curling cross towards the back post. Ronaldo is waiting but Von Ballmoos leaps in front of him to pluck the ball out of the air.
Young Boys 0 - 1 Man Utd
27 mins: Man Utd waste a free kick in a dangerous area after Ronaldo is fouled in the air. Fred and Fernandes stand over the set piece and it’s played low into the box. Young Boys read it easily enough and boot the ball out for a United throw in.
SAVE! De Gea denies Fassnacht
24 mins: David De Gea keeps Man Utd in front after Christian Fassnacht goes for an enterprising shot from outside the box. He brings it in from the right side and hits a left-footed shot. The ball bursts through a cluster of bodies and De Gea sees it late but manages to leap across to his right and palm the ball away.
Man Utd then counter-attack and find Ronaldo in the box. He takes a touch and drills one at goal only for David von Ballmoos to turn it wide of the near post.
Young Boys 0 - 1 Man Utd
21 mins: Young Boys win their first corner of the game and it’s sent in towards Elia. Lindelof beats him to the ball and heads it as far as Michel Aebischer. He sends it quickly back into the middle where Mohamed Ali Camara gets above everyone else but isn’t able to turn the ball towards goal.
Young Boys 0 - 1 Man Utd
19 mins: Another record for Ronaldo.
United continue to work the left side with Shaw and Pogba linking up well with Bruno Fernandes. Shaw cuts the ball back to the edge of the box where Fred collects the pass and goes for goal. He hits a side-footed effort searching for the back post but the shot goes over the crossbar.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments