Early Dinamo Zagreb goal sinks Chelsea

Chelsea‘s Champions League campaign got off to a nightmare start in Zagreb with an early goal for the home side being enough to seal the three points for Dinamo.

In one of Tuesday’s early kick-offs, it was Dinamo Zagreb who took the chance to go top of the group against a sluggish Chelsea side.

Chelsea dominated possession throughout, but struggled to create meaningful chances, particularly in the first half and the hosts were good value for their lead at the break.

ANTONIO BATEFE

The match-winning strike came in the 13th minute thanks to a brilliant solo effort from Mislav Orsic.

The forward ran half the length of the pitch on the counter and applied a clever dinked finish which left Kepa Arrizabalaga stranded.

Chelsea grew into the game in the second half but generally lacked guile and invention, resorting to simple horizontal passes before swinging in crosses which were dealt with all-too easily by the home side.

Arijan Ademi of Dinamo against Wesley Fofana of Chelsea
Arijan Ademi of Dinamo against Wesley Fofana of ChelseaANTONIO BATEFE

That said, Dinamo did have their goalkeeper to thank late on as Chelsea turned the screw, but Dominik Livakovic bailed out his team a couple of times to secure the win.

Delight for Dinamo Zagreb, but Chelsea will go home knowing they underperformed and now have to make up ground in the group.

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