Pedro snatched a crucial away goal for Chelsea as Maurizio Sarri's side emerged unscathed from their Europa League semi-final first leg clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Match Report
Luka Jovic enhanced his growing reputation by scoring his 26th goal of the season, a fabulous header that put Eintracht ahead after 23 minutes of the first leg.
But Maurizio Sarri's men turned the tide and Pedro struck amid a flurry of late first-half pressure.
David Luiz hit the crossbar with a free-kick and the rested Eden Hazard was sent on after the hour mark to try to force an elusive winner, although the Premier League side remain well positioned to seal their place in the final in Baku.
Player Ratings
Match Events
18' Kepa gets down low to make a strong save
Good move! Frankfurt work the ball into the final third and stretch the Chelsea defence with quick one-two touch football. The ball is eventually laid out wide by Hinteregger to Da Costa, who tries to square the ball to a teammate in the middle for a tap-in, but Kepa reads it well and makes the save.
23' GOAL! Frankfurt 1-0 Chelsea (Jovic)
Frankfurt take the lead, it's 1-0! The hosts break forward down he left wing through Kostic after Chelsea lose the ball in the middle of the pitch. Kostic whips a cross into the box, which Jovic dives onto the end of and places the ball into the far corner of the net with a header, just out of Kepa's reach.
27' CLOSE! Pedro's shot wide out
CLOSE! Pedro almost levels the scoreline with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area, which appears to be sneaking into the bottom corner, but it goes an inch or two wide of the post, with Trapp diving across to try and stop it.
45' GOAL! Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea (Pedro)
Chelsea equalise right at the end of the first half, it's 1-1! It's come from a corner that Frankfurt don't deal with and Pedro shows great quick feet in the box after Emerson and Loftus-Cheek link up well. The ball is laid it off to Pedro and the Spaniard fires it into the far corner of the net, just out of the reach of Trapp.
60' NICE SHOT! Luiz's free kick hits the bar
OFF THE BAR! David Luiz gets the ball up and over the wall, but Trapp just manages to get fingertips to the ball and push it onto the woodwork and it goes out of play for a corner. Great save.
77' SAVE! Luiz's header saved by Trapp
Another good save! Trapp this time has to be alert to stop David Luiz from scoring, after the centre-back glanced on a cross into the box and tried to fire the ball into the far corner of the net. The Frankfurt keeper has had plenty to do in this second half.
luvincr7
1059
fun fact : this is Chelsea's first draw in the Europa league they have won all their matches till now
Neeldave05
722
Frankfurt might be the Ajax of Europa league
Abdul_Qodri
198
Hope Chelsea wins the UEL. I want hazard to carry a trophy for them before he come to Madrid.
Desmondeyum
179
The blues played like they didn't want the Europa league, Frankfurt was also a tough side but Chelsea could have done better but the away Goal is Good
abolarinwasamuel17
173
loftus cheek was liberally the best chelsea player on that field but the coach took him out....kante's inteceptions today were enormously crucial...but the coach does not see that... sturborn coach does the team no good...but no finishing product today was really irritating....i think we should have score more...but anyways we have the away goal and the next leg is at Stamford Bridge....let go Blues
Nesaiknruy_Legend
76
Hard fought game, more impressed with Frankfurts defensive prowess than their attack tonight. Rode especially ran that line really well. Regarding us, our attackers need to learn how to attack and our whole back line may need replacing if we play UCL. The whole attacking fluidity came from Loftus-Cheek who is a midfielder which says a lot about our front 3. Overall an expected result... Will just rate the players; Kepa - 5, Apart from the goal not much to do. Emerson - 6.5, Did what he needed to, attacked well and defended well too. Has the qualities but just needs to improve his decision making. Christensen - 5, Probably the worse of the outfield players made a few errors but overall wasnt horrible, standard game. Luiz - 5, Similar to Christensen, had a decent game but looked out of it a lot and could have been beaten various times by more experienced strikers. Azpi - 6, Good game defensively but going forward, he cannot cross. James next season at RB with Azpi at CB wouldnt be a bad shout. Loftus Cheek - 8.5, Exactly what we need in midfield and was probably the best attacking player. Joint man of the match. Jorginho - 8, My second man of the match. This was probably the best I've seen him in a while. Directed play really well and resisted the press in the game well and dropped deep to make some crucial tackles. His importance is more than we want to believe for this system. Kante - 7.5, He was being Kante and doing his thing magnificently, no more can be said cos he will never be below a 5 even at his worst. Pedro - 6, only gets a 6 cos of the goal otherwise that was a terribly poor game from him. He lacks the technical side of the game and seems past it honestly. We need a new right winger asap. Willian - Our best of the front 3 and understandable that he got taken off to be rested for the next game. Giroud - 5.5, Poor game from him, never really looked threatening. Expected more from him considering he ran this competition so far. Need a striker badly next season and hopefully we get Tammy back asap. Subs: Hazard - 6.5, Came on but got stopped a lot. Showed moments of his quality but overall he was neutralised. Kovacic - 4, came on and had absolutely no impact on the game at all. Should be sent back to Madrid cos he is not the midfielder Chelsea needs.
fondsty
71
If luftus cheek play 90minutes he would have score . Now i see how fat Hazard has become. sarry mistake is taken Luftus out .great game but i lost my bet on Chelsea
VanishPrasad
68
Luka Jovic has now scored as many goals this season (26) as he has managed in his previous five seasons combined π±π₯β½οΈ
DeDeen2017
65
The final is between Arsenal and Chelsea in a strange land! Arsenal will not take it easy but 90 minutes will judge!!!
VanishPrasad
60
It's no surprise that Srii is doing nothing to save himself from getting sacked. Hazard should have started this match and we could have won it. Regardless, we have an away goal advantage and we will surely thrash them at Stamford Bridge. Good luck to both teams but Chelsea all the way.
Enikshizzy
56
Chelsea played far better than this Frankfurt, Jovic's goal was a howler from Kepa, we had a lot of opportunities including a woodwork..... 2nd leg is at Stamford Bridge which means we have a great advantage.... Final spot is sure lads
Motdlmopy
55
Harzard spent time standing all through each we carried the ball forward. I noticed Emerson making more runs forward than Harzard. I think is time for him to Go. Kovavic is another Bulluck. No good passes no assist from this fellow. Let him assist Harzard carry his luggage to Madrid. We need players who are willing to play for the Blues.
Arshian
54
Well disappointing performance by Chelsea you can say. They will be facing a lot of difficulties now because of the Ban and now I heard that Hazard deal is also done. Chelsea is a good club but I think they will be considered as a small team in the next season like Manchester United or Spurs Etc
Godday22
53
it was a nice play from Chelsea but we need to work more in our defense and attack,in what I saw in today's match Chelsea don't have striker and too many mistake inside their opponent box. Chelsea just need a strong striker who can do something with ball in the 18yard box.
THE_HANDSOME_ATHLETE
50
Man of the Match for Today's MATCH: The ROYAL CHEEK π€ππͺππ₯π¦β½
Adamhajji
39
Hazard look resigned to leaving Chelsea. Loftus-cheek seemingly look like a promising young talent for Chelsea in future.Jorginho look a better skipper than Azipilicueta.Diminutive French midfielder,Ngolo Kante,is equally as dangerous on the ground and in the aerial.Congratulations Blues you produce a great result despite that deafening noise from homes side fans.
K3rlm3x
39
if Sarri didn't bring Hazard we the Chelsea fans will complain and he is him helping Frankfurt to get draw by not being reproductive ..... fvck this draw, is better Chelsea lose
Anonymous2019
33
Kepa is good keeper but he lacks the help from his defenders and the major problem is Luiz, I think he plays too much and actually forgets his main job which is defending. Cech was not just good at Chelsea but Terry and Carvalho helped him several times but now luiz can't even help his fellow center back, Chelsea really needs at least two good defenders to help keep some clean sheets because these lads are not improving defensively because anyone can score Chelsea