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Zenit vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight

Follow all the action from St Petersburg as the group stage comes to a close

Michael Jones
Wednesday 08 December 2021 20:41 GMT
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Magomed Ozdoev celebrates after scoring Zenit’s late equaliser
Magomed Ozdoev celebrates after scoring Zenit’s late equaliser (AFP via Getty Images)

Champions League holders Chelsea finished as Group H runners-up after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a pulsating 3-3 draw at Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday.

The result left Chelsea second on 13 points from six games, two behind group winners Juventus who leapt into pole position thanks to a 1-0 home win over Sweden’s Malmo.

Both sides had already booked their last-16 berths while third-placed Zenit will go into the second-tier Europa League after the winter break.

Timo Werner fired Chelsea ahead in the second minute with a tap-in from a Ross Bakley corner before Brazilian Claudinho levelled in the 38th with a glancing header.

Rattled by the equaliser, Chelsea fell behind three minutes later when Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun beat the offside trap and slotted the ball home after rounding goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Romelu Lukaku hit back in the 62nd minute as he stroked the ball into an empty net after a flowing move and Chelsea seemed to have forced the final twist after Werner struck again in the 85th thanks to good work by substitute Christian Pulisic.

The Premier League side were undone, however, by a spectacular equaliser at the death as they failed to clear a cross and late substitute Magomed Ozdoev unleashed an unstoppable volley past Kepa from the edge of the penalty area.

Follow Champions League updates below:

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

39 mins: Amad Diallo slots a great diagonal ball out to Luke Shaw on the left side of the box. He brings the ball down and in doing so it strikes Ngamaleu on the arm. There’s a big appeal for handball but the referee plays on and Shaw can’t pick out Lingard on the front edge of the area.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:41

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

36 mins: Save! Greenwood wins the ball high up the pitch with a solid press and drives it into the box. He pulls it back to Mata who’s wide open and has time to shoot. His effort deflects off Lustenberger and wrongfoots the goalkeeper who keeps the ball out with his trailing leg!

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:36

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

33 mins: Save! Young Boys are threatening to overload Manchester United with their attackers in the box. The ball comes to Aebischer who draws Wan-Bissaka out of position. He then slides a pass into the left side of the box and picks out Elia. Elia cuts the ball back to Rieder who shoots and forces a decent save out of Dean Henderson.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:34

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

30 mins: Michel Aebischer takes a shot from a long way out and attempts to curl his effort just inside the right-hand post but Henderson shimmies across and clings on to the ball.

Van de Beek is harshly punished for a 50/50 challenge and Young Boys are awarded a free kick on their right side. The ball is swung into the box but Greenwood is back and confidently does his defensive duties.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:31

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

27 mins: Man Utd win a free kick about 25 yards out from goal over on the inside right. Juan Mata takes the set piece and blasts his effort over the goal without troubling Faivre.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:27

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

24 mins: Man Utd are trying hard to work the ball into the box from the right. Wan-Bissaka, Amad and Mata combine in passing triangles to slowly move up the pitch. Donny van de Beek comes across to provide a fourth option but he’s pressed quickly and has to abort the plan with a pass back to Bailly.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:26

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

21 mins: Bailly loses the ball to Fabian Rieder who counter-attacks with a forward pass into the vacant space left behind the Man Utd centre-back. Meschack Elia flies after the loose ball but Dean Henderson comes storming out of his own and hoofs the ball into the stands.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:22

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

18 mins: Amad is rewarded this time after Lefort tackles him on the right wing. United take the free kick quickly with Wan-Bissaka making a run down the line. He whips an early cross into the middle but Lefort is back in time to head it behind for a corner.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:20

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

15 mins: Bailly passes the ball up to Amad on the right side and has quickly taken down by Jordan Lefort. Lefort wins the ball and the referee lets play go on.

The other Group F match between Atalanta and Villarreal has been postponed due to adverse weather.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:17

Man Utd 1 - 0 Young Boys

12 mins: That should settle the home side down. Matic again feeds a pass up to Lingard who’s drifting on the edge of the Young Boys midfield line and making some nice runs into the final third. This time though he runs into three defenders and loses possession.

Michael Jones8 December 2021 20:14

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