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.
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Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
Timo Werner’s goal after just 1 minutes and 23 seconds is the fastest goal Chelsea have ever scored in the Champions League, overtaking Joh Terry’s 1:26 strike against FC Schalke in November 2014.
Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
In the other early kick off Juventus are beating Malmo 1-0 at half-time meaning that if things stay as they are Chelsea will finish second in the group with Juve securing top spot.
The Blues will need to score twice without reply if they want to finish at the top of Group H.
Half-time: Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
45+1 mins: A lot of action to talk about in this first half. Timo Werner sent Chelsea in front before two minutes were on the clock. Chelsea then seemingly lost their way and Zenit took advantage of a couple of mistakes to get in on goal. Claudinho netted the equaliser and SardarAzmoun sent the home side in front a couple of minutes later. There’s work for Chelsea to do here.
Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea
43 mins: Save! Malcom brings the ball forward through the midfield and slots Azmoun in behind Christensen again. He takes the ball into the box and hits a left footed chip towards the back post. Kepa sticks out his left hand and palms the ball into the ground. A couple more inches to the right and that’s a third goal for Zenit. Good work from Kepa.
GOAL! Zenit 2 - 1 Chelsea (Azmoun, 41’)⚽️
41 mins: Turnaround! Barkley gives the ball away in the centre circle and a simple pass up to Azmoun plays him in behind. He spins off the shoulder of Christensen and sweeps into the box. Kepa comes out again but Azmoun shifts the ball away from the Chelsea keeper and softly guides a diagonal shot into the open goal.
GOAL! Zenit 1 - 1 Chelsea (Claudinho, 38’)⚽️
38 mins: Well, they’ve deserved that! Malcom drives the ball into the box and Saul fails to clear a loose pass. The ball spoons over to Azpilicueta who manages to knock it out as far as Douglas Santos. Claudinho makes a run from deep and gpes straight through the middle of the box. It looks like Sarr is playing him onside as Santos’ cross comes into the six-yard box. Claudinho throws himself at the ball and heads it past Kepa. The goalkeeper had no chance of stopping it.
Zenit 0 - 1 Chelsea
36 mins: Close! Azmoun makes another good run into the box and receives the pass. Christensen attempts to win back the ball but he’s shrugged off as the Zenit forward carries the ball to the byline. He cuts it back for Kuzyaev but Saul nips in front of the midfielder and works it clear for the Blues.
Zenit 0 - 1 Chelsea
33 mins: SAVE! Werner shakes off a challenge and drives the ball to the front edge of the box. He gives it to Lukaku on the right side of the area. The forward rolls the ball onto his left foot and flicks a lovely pass to the opposite post. Mount arrives and volleys the ball into the ground but Kerzhakov has the post covered and he keeps out the shot!
Zenit 0 - 1 Chelsea
30 mins: Chelsea win another corner that Barkley flicks towards the near post. Saul breaks off his marker and meets the ball in the air with a floaty header towards the far top corner. The ball doesn’t drop in time though and lands on the roof of the net.
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