Chelsea travelled to Baku to face Qarabag FK in a Champions League match. They were looking forward to a win. In the end the Blues were held to a 2-2 draw. This result leaves plenty to talk about.
Early promise, early trouble
Young Brazilian Estevao opened the scoring in the 16th minute. This gave Chelsea a flying start. However, the lead did not last. By half-time they found themselves 2-1 down. This was due to some sloppy defending. They also conceded a penalty following a hand-ball by Jorrel Hato.
Reaction and the equaliser
Coach Enzo Maresca made three changes at half-time. He introduced Garnacho and others. Garnacho lived up to the moment. He fired a fine goal early in the second half. This leveled the match at 2-2. Chelsea then dominated possession. Though they could not find a winner.
Defensive woes again
Qarabag were dangerous on the break. They exploited Chelsea’s makeshift defence. Hato’s errors were costly. The young defender was at fault for both goals conceded before half-time. Chelsea’s back-line lacked coordination. This gave up space and allowing Qarabag to turn the game.
What this result means
The draw leaves Chelsea and Qarabag both sitting on seven points in the group. But for the Blues the draw feels like a missed opportunity. This was a side they expected to beat. Dropping points will hurt their confidence. For Maresca the work continues. He was sorting the defence, improving the squad depth. He was making sure wins turn into three points.
Author’s Insight
This wasn’t just a draw. It is a warning. Chelsea showed flashes of brilliance. Estevao’s goal, Garnacho’s equaliser and overall second half dominance. But the foundation remains shaky. Too many defensive lapses. They had poor starts, and the reliance on a late substitution say a lot.
As featured on Chelseanews.com