A FINE strike from Kai Havertz earned Chelsea a battling 2-1 victory at Red Bull Salzburg yesterday as they clinched a spot in the Champions League round of 16.
Chelsea put on a dazzling display in the first half, taking the lead in the 23rd minute through Mateo Kovacic’s instinctive left-foot finish from 20 metres, but they wasted several chances to double their advantage before the interval.
The Premier League side were made to pay for their profligacy early in the second half as Junior Adamu prodded home the equaliser, only for Havertz to restore Chelsea’s lead with a superb curled strike into the top corner in the 64th minute.
Salzburg rallied late on but found keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in fine form, helping the Blues see out the win that moves them four points clear of second-placed Salzburg in Group E and six ahead of AC Milan and Dinamo Zagreb.
“It’s not easy to create chances against this team but we did, we created good chances from good play,” Chelsea coach Graham Potter said.
Despite Salzburg never having beaten English opposition in Europe, Chelsea’s task coming into the match looked formidable with the Austrians on a 40-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
However, Kovacic’s fine finish from the edge of the penalty area, after Havertz was dispossessed, settled the away team’s nerves.
Chelsea should have capitalised further on their first-half domination but two superb saves from goalkeeper Philipp Kohn to thwart Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, kept the hosts in the game.
Salzburg looked like a different team after the break, and levelled through Adamu three minutes into the second half, with the forward slotting home after a sweeping move.
The 2021 Champions League winners remained undeterred, with Jorginho’s header cleared off the line before Havertz picked up Christian Pulisic’s pass to settle the contest in style. It was his first goal from outside the penalty area for Chelsea.
The victory meant new coach Potter became the second Englishman to go undefeated in his first nine games as Chelsea manager after William Lewis in 1906-07.
Borussia Dortmund drew 0-0 with already-qualified Manchester City later to book their spot in the knockout stage with a game to spare.
The result made sure City, on 11 points will top Group G while Dortmund, on eight, punched the second qualifying ticket, locking down second spot ahead of third-placed Sevilla, who have five points.
The Germans were the better side with City failing to get a shot on target in the first half and top striker Erling Halaland, who had scored 86 goals in 89 matches for Dortmund until his departure in the summer, being taken off at halftime.
The visitors squandered their best chance in the 58th minute when a Riyad Mahrez penalty was saved by Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel. It was the Algerian’s second missed spot kick in consecutive matches in the competition.
Sevilla, third on five points, will continue in the Europa League after beating 10-man FC Copenhagen 3-0.
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