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 - 2 Chelsea
65 mins: Thomas Tuchel makes a double change after that goal to see if Chelsea can score again and move back to the top of the group. Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic come on in place of Ross Barkley and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
GOAL! Zenit 2 - 2 Chelsea (Lukaku, 62’)⚽️
62 mins: Lovely goal from Chelsea! Timo Werner brings the ball to the edge of the box and passes it to Barkley before breaking through the lines. Lukaku is hovering in the middle of the box in an offside position but the ball doesn’t come to him. Barkley slots it into the right side of the area where Werner collects the pass and knocks it across to Lukaku who taps it home to equalise for the Blues.
Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
60 mins: Dejan Lovren goes in the book for a tackle on Timo Werner. The Zenit captain isn’t at all happy with that decision and tells the referee.
Reece James flicks the resultant free kick into the box but it’s well defended by the home side.
Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
57 mins: Mount fizzes a pass into Lukaku but his first touch is poor and he isn’t able to bring it under control. Chelsea have stepped up a gear, they’re pegging Zenit back and sliding the ball around nicely, waiting for the openings to appear.
Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
54 mins: Save! Better from Chelsea as they patiently move the ball up through the middle. Lukaku receives it in the box and shifts it away from one of the centre-backs before squaring a pass to Saul. He shoots and forces Kerzhakov into palming the ball away!
Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
51 mins: Save! Kepa Arrizabalaga’s made a bunch of good saves already tonight and he’s called into action again. Malcom takes the ball into the right side of the box and cuts onto his left foot before firing an effort at the Chelsea goalkeeper. Kepa has to leap to his right but he gets two hands to the shot and parries it away.
Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
48 mins: Almost! Chelsea work hard to get the ball out from the back but are forced to boot it long towards Lukaku. He does well to win the header and dink it into the midfield area for Mount. Hudson-Odoi breaks down the right side and Mount guides a pass over to him. He comes into the box as Werner makes a run towards goal. Hudson-Odoi attempts to square it but Barrios intercepts the pass and Zenit clear their lines.
Second half: Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
Kick off: Zenit St Petersburg get the match back underway. Chelsea need to wrestle the momentum away from the home team and get the ball under control. They win a couple of throw ins on the left side and work slowly up the pitch.
Man Utd vs Young Boys: Manchester United’s line-up
Man Utd XI: Henderson, Bailly, Mata, Greenwood, Lingard, Amad, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Van de Beek, Matic, Elanga
Coming up in the Champions League
Ralf Rangnick takes charge of his first Champions League match as Manchester United’s interim boss.
United are hosting Young Boys at Old Trafford. They’ve already qualified for the last-16 and have secured top spot in the group so it’s an opportunity for the fringe players to show the new boss what they can do.
Dean Henderson and Donny van de Beek are confirmed starters and the full team news it expected soon.
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