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Chelsea, Valencia clash ends in stalemate


Bangladeshpost
Published : 28 Nov 2019 06:41 PM | Updated : 02 Sep 2020 03:45 AM

Daniel Wass's late equaliser denied Chelsea a place in the last 16 of the Champions League as a profligate Valencia fought back for a 2-2 draw that maintains both sides' chances of reaching the knockout stages, reports AFP.

A wide open game swung the visitors' way after Carles Soler's opener for Valencia as Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic put Chelsea in pole position to avenge their 1-0 defeat on home soil to the Spaniards on matchday one.

However, after Kepa Arrizabalaga had saved Dani Parejo's penalty, Wass's cross flummoxed the Spanish international to give Valencia a lifeline.

Both sides are tied on eight points in second place in Group H, two points behind Ajax, who beat Lille 2-0.

Victory at home to Lille in two weeks' time will ensure Frank Lampard's men make the last 16 and they were thankful to five huge misses from the hosts to escape with a point on a night that could also prove costly as top-scorer Tammy Abraham was stretchered off at half-time.

"We nearly won it, nearly lost it. It was end-to-end, not that we wanted it to be," said Lampard. "It keeps it in our hands and we have to be happy with that.

"They were arriving in our box too much. Credit to the players for their work-rate and hanging on in there, but sometimes you have to be more secure than that."

When Valencia did finally break the deadlock there was a hint of fortune in the finish as the ball ricocheted off Soler's legs, but had enough power to beat Kepa.

Defeat would have left Lampard's men on the brink of elimination, but they responded immediately after falling behind as Kovacic produced his first goal for the club at the perfect time with a fine low strike.

Chelsea took the lead five minutes into the second period when Pulisic kept up his fine scoring form by prodding home Kurt Zouma's knockdown. Following a lengthy VAR check for offside, the goal was given, but Valencia were furious there was not a check for a potential foul by Zouma in the build-up.

Kepa made amends 25 minutes from time with a brilliant save from Parejo's penalty after Jorginho was harshly penalised for a foul on Jose Luis Gaya.