Denis Zakaria scored on his Chelsea debut as the Blues came from behind to round off their successful Champions League Group E campaign with victory against Dinamo Zagreb at Stamford Bridge.
The hosts had already wrapped up top spot with a game to spare but were looking to respond after they were stunned 4-1 in the Premier League by Brighton on Saturday.
They made the worst possible start as they fell behind in the sixth minute when the Blues defence reacted poorly to a cross and Bruno Petkovic was able to head in from close range.
Chelsea initially struggled to create much in response but a well-worked move brought them their equaliser as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang backheeled the ball to Raheem Sterling inside the box and he kept his cool to slot in.
On-loan Juventus midfielder Zakaria then marked a dream debut as he drove in a low shot midway through the first half that squeezed over the line despite a defender's attempt to clear.
Dinamo needed to win to finish third and go into the Europa League and Edouard Mendy made a good save to deny Bosko Sutalo's point-blank header early in the second half.
Aubameyang came close to adding a third for Chelsea when he powered a shot against the crossbar and Conor Gallagher was denied late on, but ultimately Zakaria's goal was enough to seal the win for the Blues.
Chilwell concern for Chelsea and England
With the World Cup in Qatar around the corner, this is a nervous time for many players hoping to feature at the tournament as they look to avoid any late injuries.
This came close to being the perfect night for Chelsea but there was late concern as, deep in stoppage time, full-back Ben Chilwell fell to the floor after clutching his hamstring.
Chilwell looked understandably frustrated once he was able to get to his feet, but he continued to hold the back of his leg before needing assistance from Chelsea's medical staff to get off the pitch.
England's World Cup opener is against Iran on 21 November and Chelsea and England will both be hopeful the issue is ultimately not as serious as it looked.
Patience pays off for Zakaria
There was more positive news for Chelsea in the performance of Zakaria, who has had a strange start to his career at Stamford Bridge.
The defensive midfielder was signed on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day from Juventus by previous boss Thomas Tuchel, but he was overlooked for game time by the German and then his replacement Graham Potter.
However, the Switzerland international was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up on Wednesday and he made the most of his chance.
On top of his goal, Zakaria was clearly determined to impress. He produced a busy performance and in the second half he made an excellent tackle to halt a Dinamo attack and immediately send Aubameyang away.
His display should ensure he will not have to endure another long wait to pull on a Chelsea shirt again.
Player of the match
GallagherConor Gallagher
with an average of 7.37Chelsea
Squad number23Player nameGallagher
Average rating7.37
Squad number19Player nameMount
Average rating7.14
Squad number20Player nameZakaria
Average rating7.12
Squad number18Player nameBroja
Average rating7.00
Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Average rating6.99
Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Average rating6.77
Squad number10Player namePulisic
Average rating6.66
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Average rating6.49
Squad number12Player nameLoftus-Cheek
Average rating6.48
Squad number17Player nameSterling
Average rating6.45
Squad number14Player nameChalobah
Average rating6.30
Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Average rating6.20
Squad number26Player nameKoulibaly
Average rating6.18
Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Average rating6.15
Squad number16Player nameMendy
Average rating5.95
Squad number9Player nameAubameyang
Average rating4.78
Dinamo Zagreb
Squad number9Player namePetkovic
Average rating5.55
Squad number99Player nameOrsic
Average rating5.45
Squad number7Player nameIvanusec
Average rating5.38
Squad number2Player nameMoharrami
Average rating5.35
Squad number5Player nameAdemi
Average rating5.31
Squad number40Player nameLivakovic
Average rating5.28
Squad number14Player nameLjubicic
Average rating5.28
Squad number27Player nameMisic
Average rating5.26
Squad number31Player nameBulat
Average rating5.22
Squad number37Player nameSutalo
Average rating5.22
Squad number55Player namePeric
Average rating5.18
Squad number13Player nameRistovski
Average rating5.15
Squad number77Player nameSpikic
Average rating4.99
Squad number18Player nameDrmic
Average rating4.97
Squad number11Player nameEmreli
Average rating4.97
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-3-1-2
16Mendy
28Azpilicueta14Chalobah26Koulibaly21Chilwell
19Mount5Jorginho20Zakaria
29Havertz
17Sterling9Aubameyang
- 16Mendy
- 28Azpilicueta
- 14Chalobah
- 26KoulibalyBooked at 39minsSubstituted forThiago Silvaat 65'minutes
- 21Chilwell
- 19Mount
- 5Jorginho
- 20ZakariaSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 71'minutes
- 29HavertzSubstituted forGallagherat 64'minutes
- 17SterlingSubstituted forPulisicat 83'minutes
- 9AubameyangSubstituted forBrojaat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Thiago Silva
- 10Pulisic
- 12Loftus-Cheek
- 13Bettinelli
- 18Broja
- 22Ziyech
- 23Gallagher
- 32Cucurella
Dinamo Zagreb
Formation 3-1-4-2
40Livakovic
13Ristovski37Sutalo55Peric
27Misic
2Moharrami7Ivanusec5Ademi14Ljubicic
9Petkovic99Orsic
- 40Livakovic
- 13RistovskiSubstituted forEmreliat 69'minutes
- 37Sutalo
- 55Peric
- 27MisicBooked at 22mins
- 2MoharramiBooked at 89mins
- 7IvanusecBooked at 54mins
- 5AdemiSubstituted forBulatat 83'minutes
- 14Ljubicic
- 9PetkovicSubstituted forDrmicat 83'minutes
- 99OrsicSubstituted forSpikicat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Stefulj
- 6Lauritsen
- 10Baturina
- 11Emreli
- 12Bockaj
- 18Drmic
- 20Marin
- 28Théophile-Catherine
- 31Bulat
- 33Nevistic
- 70Menalo
- 77Spikic
Referee:François Letexier
Attendance:39,392
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Chelsea 2, Dinamo Zagreb 1.
Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Dinamo Zagreb 1.
Attempt blocked. Mahir Emreli (Dinamo Zagreb) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Luka Ivanusec (Dinamo Zagreb) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mahir Emreli.
Attempt missed. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mahir Emreli (Dinamo Zagreb).
Attempt missed. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Substitution, Dinamo Zagreb. Dario Spikic replaces Mislav Orsic.
Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb).
Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Josip Misic (Dinamo Zagreb).
Attempt missed. Thiago Silva (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Chilwell with a cross following a set piece situation.
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb).
Attempt saved. Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
Substitution, Dinamo Zagreb. Marko Bulat replaces Arijan Ademi.
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