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
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:
Zenit 2 - 3 Chelsea
90+3 mins: Cesar Azpilicueta takes a knock as he defends a long ball into the Chelsea box and after a breather he’s back on his feet ready to go. Not a bad way to run down a few seconds.
Zenit 2 - 3 Chelsea
90 mins: There’s going to be six minutes of added time to play. Chelsea will want to see out this match now, Zenit seem to be running on reserves.
Zenit 2 - 3 Chelsea
88 mins: There was a nervous wait for Chelsea as VAR checked that Werner had stayed onside but the goal stands and Chelsea have moved back to the top of Group H. Thomas Tuchel will be pleased about this second half. Chelsea have taken the game to Zenit and earned both of their second half goals. Kepa Arrizabalaga has been brilliant in goal too and he’s come up with some vital saves to keep them in the game.
GOAL! Zenit 2 - 3 Chelsea (Werner, 85’)⚽️
85 mins: Superb goal from Chelsea! A pacey pass up to Pulisic is brilliantly controlled and he plays a quick one-two with Ziyech to run along from front edge of the box. Werner drifts into space in the box but Pulisic picks him out. He shifts the ball to the right and fires a low shot underneath the goalkeeper to put Chelsea back in front. A fine finish from the German.
Zenit 2 - 2 Chelsea
81 mins: Into the last 10 minutes in St. Petersburg. Christensen heads a Zenit corner out towards Lovren who takes a shot from range but pulls it wide of goal.
Zenit 2 - 2 Chelsea
78 mins: Azmoun tried his best to continue for Zenit but he limps off a little dejectedly to be replaced with Artem Dzyuba. Chelsea are still chasing down a winning goal. Havertz and Werner combine to get the ball into the box and Werner’s shot is deflected out for a corner.
Ziyech swings the set piece into the box but Zenit head it away.
Zenit 2 - 2 Chelsea
75 mins: Another double change for Chelsea as Azmoun gets a little treatment. Marcos Alonso and Kai Havertz come on for Saul Niguez and Romelu Lukaku.
Zenit 2 - 2 Chelsea
73 mins: Sarr and Azmoun come together off the ball and the Zenit striker goes down in pain clutching his ankle. Kepa Arrizabalaga calls for the Zenit medical team to come and take a look.
Zenit 2 - 2 Chelsea
70 mins: SAVE! Claudinho’s corner doesn’t beat the first man but Zenit recover the ball quickly. They work it back to Claudinho who flicks another cross into the box. Azmoun is unmarked and he meets the ball in the air with a powerful header at goal. Kepa reacts fast and dives across to the left to turn the effort wide of the post!
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