Champions League – Group E – FC Salzburg v Chelsea – October 25, 2022 Chelsea’s Kai Havertz celebrates scoring his second goal with teammates REUTERS / Leonhard Foeger
SALZBURG, Austria — A superb Kai Havertz strike gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday as they secured a place in the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners.
Chelsea put on a dazzling display in the first half, taking the lead in the 23rd minute thanks to Mateo Kovacic’s instinctive left-footed finish from 20 yards, but they squandered several chances to double. advantage ahead of time.
The Premier League side paid for their mistake early in the second half when Junior Adamu scored the equalizer, only for Havertz to restore Chelsea’s lead with a sublime cut into the top corner in the 64th minute. .
Salzburg gathered late, but goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was in good form, helping the Blues win to put them 3 points ahead of second-placed AC Milan, whose 4-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb means Chelsea will top of Group E.
“It’s not easy to create chances against this team but we did, we created good chances from good play,” said Chelsea manager Graham Potter.
“We had a lot of games and disruptions without key players but they (the whole team) reacted very well and to get through the Champions League it was a great effort. We’re going to take the steps, tonight is one of those. “
Despite Salzburg never having beaten an English opponent in Europe, Chelsea’s task as they head into the match looks formidable with the Austrians on a 40-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Champions League – October 25, 2022 Chelsea’s Kai Havertz during a pre-match REUTERS / Leonhard Foeger warm-up
However, Kovacic’s shot from the edge of the box after Havertz was saved saved the visitors’ lives.
Chelsea should have taken advantage of their dominance in the first half but two brilliant saves by goalkeeper Philipp Kohn to save Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, kept the hosts going.
Salzburg looked like another team after the break, and leveled Adamu three minutes into the second half, with a header forward after a sweeping move.
The 2021 Champions League champions remained undaunted, with Jorginho’s header wide of the post before Havertz caught a Christian Pulisic pass to tackle the competition in style. It was his first goal from outside the box for Chelsea.
Despite the belated pressure from Salzburg, Chelsea still deserved to win to continue the renaissance under new coach Potter.
The victory meant Potter became only the second English player to be unbeaten in his first nine games as Chelsea manager after William Lewis in 1906-07.
Salzburg are third in the group, and must beat Milan in Italy next week to reach the round of 16.
“In the end (the team with) better quality won,” Kohn told Sky Austria. “A goal like that that he (Havertz) doesn’t score every day, I have to congratulate him for that. It’s a bit annoying, we’d like to get a point. “
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